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CanwHan  Iratftute  for  HMorical  MIcronpfoductiofM  /  Intthut  canadiwi  da  mtcrafaprodiictioiit  htetoriquM 


©1995 


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0Calaurad  cenan/ 
Coyninuca  da  tr  almu 

□  Caiandamatad/ 
CamMiH*  andamiMfia 

□  Covan  lanoiad  and/w  laminatad/ 
Cnnanim  ranaurta  at/w  paNkuHa 


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Cann  ti«(taphiqwi  an  aiMdaur 

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Encn  dt  ooulaw  lU.  auva  qua  Maua  o«  noift) 

0Cotoviad  ptoBi  and/o>  ilhouatiom/ 
Planchaa  atteu  illunratianf  an  aoulaur 

□  Bound  with  oUMf  malarial/ 
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I 1  Ti*l  binding  may  eauMihadow  or  dirtonion 


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diawiion  la  loof  da  to  mana  intMaura 

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baan  omitiad  from  fiknini/ 
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•  of  itnia/ 
t  titra  da  la  Hnaiion 


0  Additional  Gommanu:/  Paga.  »hony  obacurad 

Conunamairaawpplimanlairai:  f^^Wm  Inaga. 

Thii  iiaffl  il  tiknad  at  tha  raduciion  ratio  chackad  balow/ 
Ca  doaumant  ait 


□  Titlapagac 
Pagadatitr 

□  Caption  of  il 
Tina  da  dipart  da  I*  linaiion 

I 1  Maithaad/ 

I I  Giniriqua  (piriodiquai)  da  la  linaiion 

by  tlituaa  have  been  refllaed  te  enaura  the  beat 


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to  the  BWMresltv  of: 

BibUotMqiM  ghrfrate, 
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baan  nproduMd  tfianlw 


Tha  imagaa  appaarine  hara  an  tha  baat  qualtty 
poailbia  camidarinB  tha  eendWan  and  lagibiHty 
af  tha  original  eopy  and  In  kaaping  with  tha 
fllmine  eontfaet  apaeM  Icationa. 


Original  eepiaa  In  printad  papar  cowan  ara  lUmad 
bagtainlng  with  tha  front  eovar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  liluatistad  impraa- 
aion,  or  tha  bacli  eovar  whan  appropriau.  All 
othar  original  eoplaa  ara  fUniad  iMginnIng  on  Iho 
firat  paga  wKh  a  printad  or  lUuatratad  Impraa- 
aion,  and  anding  en  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  Hluattatad  Impraaaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  an  aaeh  ir!s>oficho 
ahall  contain  tha  aymbol  -» Imaaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  aymbol  ▼  Imaaning  "END"). 


L'axamplaira  fHm4  lut  rapreduit  grica  k  la 
g«n«reait«  da: 


Mapa.  plataa.  eharta,  ate.,  may  ba  fllmad  at 
diffarant  raduetion  ratloa.  Thoaa  too  large  to  be 
entiraiy  Included  In  one  axpoaura  ere  filmed 
beginning  In  the  upper  left  hend  comer,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framea  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrama  Hluatrata  tha 


Laa  Image*  aulvantaa  ont  M  raproduite*  avac  la 
plui  grand  coin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  le  nettet*  de  reiempleire  film*,  et  en 
confermM  awae  lee  eonditiena  du  contrat  da 
Wmage. 

Lee  ammplairaa  eriginaua  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papier  eet  imprimto  aont  fllmte  an  oommenfant 
par  le  premier  plat  at  en  tarmlnant  toit  par  ia 
damitre  page  qui  comporta  una  emprelnte 
d'improaaien  e«  dllluatration.  aoit  par  le  second 
piat.  aalen  le  aaa.  Toua  lee  autrea  axempleires 
origineua  aont  fUmta  en  eommencent  per  le 
premiire  page  qui  eomperte  une  mipreinte 
dimpraaalon  ou  dllluatiation  at  an  tarmlnant  par 
la  dariiiire  page  qui  compoite  une  teile 
fmpreinM. 

Un  dee  aymlraiaa  suivanta  apparaitra  sur  la 
damiAra  Image  da  eliaqua  mierofiche,  lelon  ie 
eaa:  la  •ymbela  -^  signifie  "A  SUiVRE".  la 
aymbole  ▼  aignifia  "FIN". 

Laa  eartaa.  planeha*.  tabiaaux,  ate.,  pauvant  4tra 
film**  *  dee  taux  do  rMuetion  diff*renu. 
Lorsque  le  document  eat  trap  grand  pour  ttra 
raprodult  en  un  aaul  ellch*.  II  eet  f llmA  i  pertir 
de  I'engle  tupArieur  geuehe.  de  gauche  *  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  baa,  an  prenant  la  nomt»a 
d'Imeges  nAcesaalre.  Lee  diegrammee  auivanu 
HhMtram  ia  mathede. 


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653  Eo*t  Main  StrMt 


(716)  482  -  0300  -  PhDTw 


DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 


BXTBA-ILLDSTRATED  EDITION 

VOLUME  7 

THE  CHRONICLES 

OF  AMERICA  SERIES 

ALLEN  JOHNSON 

EDITOR 

6ERBARD  H.  LOMER 

CHARLES  W.  JEFFERYS 

ASSISTANT  EDITORS 


'l' 


.H 


i 


h;. 


*  I. 


ii 


^'--^^--^J^^^^r^J^^,,^.^ 


DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH 
ON  THE  HUDSON 


E 

1+ 


A  CHRONICLE  OF 

COLONIAL  NEW  YORK 

BY  MAUD  WILDER  GOODWIN 


NEW  HAVEN:   YALE   UNIVERSITY  FEESS 

TORONTO:   GLASGOW.    BROOK   &   CO 

LONDON:    HUMPHREY    MILPORD 

OXFORD    UNIVERSITY    PRESS 

1920 


Copyrifht,  1919.  by  YaU  Vntnerrity  Pren 


CONTENTS 

I.    DPIBXGSXATBIVBB 

rif    1 

n.    TRADERS  AND  SETTLEBS 

"      IT 

m.    PATROONS  AND  LORDS  OF  THE  MANOU 

"      M 

IV.    1HE  DIRECTORS 

"    n 

V.    DOMINE8  AND  SCHOOL-TEACHERS 

"      83 

VI.    THE  BURGHERS 

"  lot 

Vn.    THE  NEIGHBORS  OP  NEW  NETHEBLAND 

"    MS 

Vm.     THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  GOVERNOBS 

"     I»7 

DL    LEISLER 

"    UO 

X.    FRIVATEEBS  AND  PIRATES 

"    I«5 

XL    COLONIAL  GOVERNMENT  IN  THE 
TEENTH  CENTDBY 

EIGB 

'•     180 

Xn.    THB2ENGERTRUL 

"     108 

Xm.    THENEGROPLOTS 

"    MM 

XIV.    SmWIU.IAH  JOHNSON 

"    tl8 

BIBU06RAPHICAL  NOTE 

"  ni 

INDEX 

"    (88 

vfi 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PBTEB  8TCYVE8ANT 

Eacnviag  bf  Cbarta  Burt  from  |»iatiaf .    In 
tlMoalbctioii  of  tlw  Nnr  York  Hbtorial  So- 


THE  HUDSON  HIVEK  REGION.  l«».mo 
Hqi  hy  W.  L.  O.  JoCTg,  Americsa  Gwfnphicd 


FmtHtflt— 


Sodety. 

THE  PORT  AT  NEW  AMSTERDAM 
Dnwiiic  tram  an  old  print 

DAVID  PIETERSSEN  DE  VRIES 

Eofrravinc  in  KorU  BiHontuI,  by  De  Vrin,  Isu. 
In  tin  New  York  Public  lOmry. 

NEW  AMSTERDAM.  ABODT  ISSO 

The  ««rliMt  engraved  view  of  New  York.  In^ 
DueriTtimi  cf  Sn>  KMtrlimdt,  rirfinia,  <md 
Nn  Boflmd.  by  Joost  Hertfieoi,  puUidied  in 
Anuterdm,  IMl.  In 'ie  New  York  Public  Li- 
bmry. 

CORNELIS  STEENWYCK 

Fkinting  in  the  collection  of  the  New  York  Hi*. 
torical  Society. 

PETER  SCHUYLER 

Drawing  after  a  painting  in  the  poHeuion  of  the 
Schuyler  family,  Albany.  New  York. 


Faeinf  pait    It 


M 


Si 


J3* 


"     US 


IU>D9niATION8 


UCRABDOOOn.  KARL  OF  BUXOMONT 

NKwytwKiNint 


'■^rv'W 


tiff 


DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE 
HUDSON 


CHAPTER  I 

or  TBS  OBXAT  Rim 

I  GnooBAFBT  is  thr  maker  of  histoiy.  Tlw  coune 
lol  Dutch  aettlement  in  America  waa  piedetei^ 
I  mined  by  a  river  which  rung  its  length  of  a  hundred 
land  fifty  miles  from  the  mountains  to  the  sea 
j  through  the  heart  <rf  a  fertile  country  and  which 
lexers  a  natural  highway  for  transportation  of 
J  merchandise  and  for  coaimunicalion  between  colo- 
I  nies.  No  man,  however,  could  foresee  the  devel- 
jopment  of  the  Empire  State  when,  on  that 
I  memorable  September  day  in  1609,  a  small  Dutch 
I  yacht  named  the  Halve  Maene  or  Half  Moon,  under 
I  the  comman-  of  Captain  Henry  Hudson,  sUpped 
I  in  past  the  low  hook  of  sand  in  front  of  the 
Navesink  Heights,  and  sounded  her  way  to  an 


«  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

anchorage  io  what  is  now  the  outer  harbor  of  New 
York. 

Robert  Juet  of  Limehouse,  one  of  the  adven- 
turers sailing  with  Hudson,  writes  in  his  journal: 

At  three  of  the  clock  in  the  aftemoone  we  came  to 
three  great  rivers,  so  we  stood  along  to  the  northermost, 
thinking  to  have  gone  into  it;  but  we  found  it  to  have  a 
veiy  shoald  barre  before  it,  for  we  had  but  ten  foot 
water;  then  wee  cast  about  to  the  southward  and  found 
two  fathoms,  three  fathoms,  and  three  and  a  quarter, 
till  we  came  to  the  souther  side  of  them;  then  we  had 
five  and  size  fathoms  and  anchored.  So  wee  sent  in  our 
boate  to  sound  and  they  found  no  lesse  water  than  foure, 
five,  six,  and  seven  fathoms  and  returned  in  an  hour  and 
a  half.  So  wee  weighed  and  went  in  and  rode  in  five 
fathoms,  oozie  ground,  and  saw  many  sahnons,  mulleto 
and  rayes  very  great. 

So  quietly  is  chronicied  one  of  the  epoch-making 
events  of  history,  an  event  which  opened  a  rich 
territory  and  gave  to  the  United  Netherlands  their 
foothold  in  the  New  World,  where  Spain,  France, 
and  England  had  abeady  established  their  claims. 
Let  us  try  to  call  to  our  minds  the  picture  of  the 
Ealf  Mom  as  she  lies  there  in  harbor,  a  quaint, 
clumsily  built  boat  of  forty  lasts,  or  eighty  tons, 
burden.  From  her  bow  projects  a  beakhead,  a 
sort  of  gallery,  painted  and  carved,  and  used  as  a 


UP  THE  GREAT  RIVEB  s 

place  of  rest  or  of  punishment  for  the  sailors.    At 
the  tip  of  the  beakhead  is  the  figurehead,  a  red 
lion  with  a  golden  mane.    The  ship's  bow  is  green, 
with  ornaments  of  saUors'  heads  painted  red  and 
yeUow.    Both  forecasUe  and  poop  are  high,  the 
latter  painted  a  blue  mottled  with  white  clouds. 
The  stem  bdow  is  rich  in  color  and  carving.    It^ 
upper  panels  show  a  blue  ground  picked  out  with 
stars  and  set  in  it  a  crescent  holding  a  profile  of  the 
traditional  Man  in  the  Moon.    The  panel  below 
bears  the  arms  of  the  City  of  Amsterdam  and  the 
letters  V.  O.  C.  forming  the  monogram  of  the 
Dutch  East  India  Company  —  Vereenigde  Oost- 
Indische  Compagnie. 

Five  carved  heads  uphold    the    stem,  above 
which  hangs  one  of  those  ornate  lanterns  which 
the  Dutch  love  so  well.    To  add  to  all  this  wealth 
of  color,  flags  are  flying  from  every  masthead. 
At  the  foretop  flutters  the  tricolor  of  red,  white 
and  black,  with  the  arms  of  Amsterdam  in  a  field 
of  white.    At  the  maintop  flames  the  flag  of  the 
seven  provinces  of  the  Netherlands,  emblazoned 
with  a  red  lion  rampant,  bearing  in  his  paws  a 
sword  and  seven  arrows.     The  bowsprit  bears  a 
™aU  flag  of  orange,  white,  and  blue,  while  from 
the  stem  flies  the  Dutch  East  India  Company's 


M 


■t 


4  DUTCB  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
•pecial  banner.  It  is  no  wonder  that  such  an 
apparition  causes  the  simple  natives  ashore  to 
believe  first  that  some  marvelous  bird  has  swept 
in  from  the  sea.  and  then  that  a  mysterious  mes- 
senger from  the  Great  Spirit  has  appeared  in  aU 
his  celestial  robes. 

If  Hudson's  object  had  been  stage-setting  fo 
the  benefit  of  the  natives,  he  could  not  have  ar- 
ranged his  effects  better.    The  next  day.  when  the 
ship  had  moved  to  a  good  harbor,  the  p<.«ple  of  the 
country  were  allowed  to  come  aboard  to  barter 
"greeneTabacco"  for  knives  and  beads.    Hudson 
probably  thought  that  the  savages  might  learn  a 
lesson  m  regard  to  the  power  of  the  newcomers  by 
an  inspection  of  the  interior  of  the  ship     The 
cannon  which  protruded  their  black  noses  a.nid- 
ships  held  their  threat  of  destruction  even  when 
they  were  not  belching  thunder  and  lightning    The 
forecastle  with  its  neatly  arranged  berths  must 
have  seemed  a  strange  contrast  to  the  bare  ground 
on  which  the  savages  were  accustomed  to  sleep, 
and  the  brightness  of  polished  and  engraved  brass 
Ublets  caught  the  untutored  eyes  which  could  not 
decipher  the  inscriptions.     There  were  three  of 
these  tablets,  the  mottoes  of  which,  being  trans- 
lated, read:  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother  J    Do 


UP  THE  GBEAT  BIVES  a 

not  fyht  wUkoui  ccauel    Good  admee  makes  the 
wheeU  run  tmooMyl 

Perhaps  the  thing  which  interested  the  Indians 
most  was  the  great  wooden  block  fastened  to  the 
deck  behind  the  mainmast.  This  strange  object 
was  fashioned  in  the  shape  of  a  man's  head,  and 
through  it  passeU  the  ropes  used  to  hoist  the  yards. 
It  was  called  sometimes  "the  silent  servant," 
sometimes  "the  knighthead."  To  the  Indians  it 
must  have  seemed  the  final  to-ch  of  necromancy, 
and  they  were  prepared  to  bow  down  in  awe  before 
a  race  of  beings  who  could  thus  make  blocks  of 
wood  serve  them. 

Trusting,  no  doubt,  to  the  impression  which  he 
had  made  on  the  minds  of  the  natives,  Hudson 
decided  to  go  ashore.  The  Indians  crowded  around 
him  and  "sang  in  their  fashion"  — a  motley 
horde,  as  strange  to  the  ship's  crew  as  the  HalS 
Moon  and  its  company  seemed  marvelous  to  the 
aborigines.  Men,  women,  and  children,  dressed 
in  fur  or  tricked  out  with  feathers,  stood  about  or 
floated  in  their  boats  hewn  from  sohd  logs,  the  men 
carrying  pipes  of  red  copper  in  which  they  smoked 
that  precious  product,  tobacco  —  the  consolation 
prize  offered  by  the  New  World  to  the  Old  in  lieu 
of  the  hoped-for  passage  to  Cathay. 


.ill 


I 


m 


«  DDTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSOK 

Everything  seemed  to  breathe  assunmce  of 
peacehJ  relations  between  the  red  man  and  the 
white;  but  if  the  newcomers  did  not  at  tie  moment 
wah«  the  nature  of  the  Indians,  their  eyes  were 
opened  to  possibiKties  of  treacheo'  by  the  happen- 
ings of  the  next  day.  John  Cohnan  and  a  boat's 
oew  were  sent  out  to  take  further  soundings  before 
the  Baf  Moan  should  proceed  on  her  journey. 

As  the  boat  was  returning  to  report  a  safe  course 
ahead   the  crew,  only  five  in  number,  were  set 
upon  by  two  war-canoes  fiDed  with  Indians,  whose 
volley  of  arrows  struck  terror  to  their  hearts 
Colman  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  throat  by  an 
M«)w.  and  two  of  his  companions  were  seriously. 
Aough  not  fatally,  hurt.    Keeping  up  a  running 
»Wht.  the  survivors  escaped  under  cover  of  dark- 
ness.    During  the  night,  as  they  crouched  with 
thett  dead  comrade  in  the  boat,  the  sailors  must 
have  thought  the  minutes  hours  and  the  hours 
days.     To  add  to  their  discomfort  rain  was  fall- 
ing, and  they  drifted  forlornly  at  the  mercy  of  the 
current.  Whenatlastdawncame.theycouldmake 
outthediipatagreatdistance;  butit  wasteno'clock 

m  the  morning  before  they  reached  her  safe  shelter 
So  ended  the  brief  dream  of  ideal  friendship  and 
confidence  between  the  red  men  and  the  whites 


UP  THE  GREAT  RIVER  7 

After  Colman  had  been  buried  in  a  grave  by  the 
side  of  the  beautiful  sheet  of  water  which  he  had 
known  for  so  short  a  time,  the  Half  Moon  worked 
her  way  cautiously  from  the  Lower  Bay  through 
the  Narrows  to  the  inner  harbor  and  reached  the 
tip  of  the  island  which  stands  at  its  head.  What  is 
now  a  bewildering  mass  of  towers  and  palaces  of 
industry,  looking  down  upon  a  f ar-ertended  fleet  <rf 
steam  and  sailing  vessels,  was  then  a  point,  wooded 
to  the  water's  edge,  with  a  scattered  Indian  village' 
nestling  amouf^   he  tref  ■?. 

A  Moravian  missionary,  writing  at  the  beginning 
of  the  mneteenth  centui-y,  set  down  an  account 
from  the  red  man's  point  of  view  of  the  arrival  of 
the  Half  Moon.    This  account  he  claimed  to  have 
received  from  old  Indians  who  held  it  as  part  of 
their  tribal  traditions.   As  such  it  is  worth  noting 
and  quoting,  although  as  history  it  is  of  more  than 
doubtful  authenticity.   The  tradition  runs  that  the 
chiefs  of  the  different  tribes  on  sighting  the  Half 
Mom  supposed  it  to  be  a  supernatural  visitor  and 
assembled  on  "  York  Island  "  to  deliberate  on  the 
manner  in  which  they  should  receive  this  Manito 
on  his  arrival.   Plenty  of  meat  was  provided  for 
a  sacrifice,  a  grand  dance  was  arranged,  and  the 
medicme-men  were  set  to  work  to  determine  the 


lU 


n 


8  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
meaning  of  this  phenomenon.  The  numen  sent 
out  to  observe  and  rqwrt  declaied  it  certain  that 
it  was  the  Great  Manito,  "but  other  runners  soon 
after  arriving,  declare  it  a  large  house  of  virion* 
colors.  fuU  of  people  yet  of  quite  a  different  color 
than  they  [the  Indians]  are  of.  That  they  wei« 
also  dressed  in  a  different  manner  from  them  aad 
that  one  in  particular  appeared  altogether  red, 
which  must  be  the  Mannitto  himself." 

The  strange  craft  stopped  and  a  smaller  boat 
drew  near.  While  some  stayed  behind  to  guard 
the  boat,  the  red-clothed  man  with  two  othen 
advanced  intp  a  laige  circle  formed  by  the  Indian 
chiefs  and  wise  men.  He  saluted  them  and  they 
returned  the  salute. 

A  laige  hock-hack  [Indian  for  gouid  or  bottiej  is  btoudit ' 
forward  by  the  supposed  Mamiitto's  servanU  and  fcom 
this  a  substance  is  poured  out  into  a  smaU  cup  or  dass 
md  handed  to  the  Mannitto.  The  expected  Mannitto 
dnnks,  has  the  glass  fiUed  again  and  hands  it  to  the  chief 
nert  him  to  drink.  The  chief  receives  the  glass  but  only 
meUeth  at  it  and  passes  it  on  to  the  nert  chief  who  does 
the  same.  The  glass  then  passes  through  the  circle 
without  the  contents  being  tasted  by  anyone,  and  is 
upon  the  point  of  being  relumed  again  to  the  led- 
dothed  man  when  one  of  their  number,  a  spirited  man 
and  a  great  wairior  jumps  up  and  harangues  the  as- 
Mmbly  on  the  impropriety  of  returning  the  glass  with 


UP  THE  GREAT  RIVER  9 

the  conteDU  in  it  -  f  .t  the  «iine  was  handed  them  by 
the  S^tto  in  order  that  they  .hould  drink  it  aa  he 
hunaetf  had  done  before  them  -  that  this  would  please 
him;  but  that  to  return  it  might  provoke  him  and  be 
ftecauseoftheirbeingdestroyedbyhim.  Hethentook 
the  gLiss  and  biddmg  the  assembly  a  fareweU.  drank  it 
up.  Every  eye  was  fixed  on  their  resolute  companion  to 
see  what  an  effec*  this  would  have  upon  him  and  he  soon 
begmmng  to  stagger  about  and  at  last  dropping  to  the 
ground  they  bemoan  him.  He  falls  into  a  sleep  and  they 
sawhmiase:q,iring.  He  awakes  agam.  jumps  up  and 
declares  that  he  never  felt  himself  before  so  happy  as 
after  he  had  drank  the  cup.  Wishes  for  more.  Hiswish 
a  granted  and  the  whole  assembly  soon  join  him  and 
become  mtoncated. 

The  Delawares,  as  the  missioiaiy  points  out 
further,  caU  New  York  Island  "Mannahattanik." 
"the  place  where  we  were  all  drunk."    With  this 
picturesque  account  let  us  contrast  the  curt  sUte- 
ment  of  Robert  Juet:  "This  morning  at  our  first 
rode  in  the  River  there  came  eight  and  twenty 
canoes  f  uU  of  men.  women  and  children  to  betray 
us;  but  we  saw  their  intent  and  suffered  none  of 
them  to  come  aboord  of  us.    At  twelve  of  the 
clocke  they  departed.    They  brought  with  them 
oysters  and  beanes  whereof  we  bought  some."    If 
there  had  been  any  such  striking  scene  as  the  mis- 
sionary's chronicle  reports.  Juet  would  probably 


I 

s 

i 


'4^ 

'Pi' 


I 


10  DCTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
have  recorded  it;  but  in  addition  to  his  sUence 
in  the  matter  we  miut  recaU  the  fact  that  this 
bve-f  east  is  supposed  to  have  occurred  only  a  few 
days  after  the  killing  of  Cohnan  and  the  return  of 
the  terror-stricken  crew.  This  makes  it  seem 
extremely  improbable  that  Hudson  would  have 

taken  the  risk  of  going  ashore  among  hostfle  natives 
and  proffering  the  hospitalities  which  had  been  so 
in  requited  on  his  previous  landing.  Let  us  there- 
fore pass  by  the  Reverend  John  Heckwelder's 
account  as  "weU  found,  but  not  well  founded," 
and  continue  to  follow  the  cruise  of  the  ffo^Jfoon 
up  the  great  ^iver. 

The  days  now  were  fair  and  warm,  and  Hudson, 
looking  around  him  when  the  auljmn  sun  had 
swept  away  the  haze  from  the  face  of  the  water, 
declared  it  as  fair  a  land  as  could  be  trodden  by 
the  foot  of  man.  He  left  Manhattan  Island  be- 
hind, passed  the  site  of  Yonkers.  and  was  carried 
by  a  southeasterly  wind  beyond  the  Highlands 
till  he  reached  what  is  now  West  Point.  In  this 
region  of  the  CatskiUs  the  Dutch  found  the  natives 
friendly,  and,  having  apparently  recovered  from 
their  first  suspicious  attitude,  the  explorers  began 
to  open  barter  and  exchange  with  such  as  wished 
to  come  aboard.   On  at  least  one  occasion  Hudson 


UP  THE  GSEAT  BIVEB 


11 


hinuelf  went  uhore.  Tbe  early  Dutch  writer,  De 
Laet,  who  tued  Hudson's  last  journal,  quotes  at 
length  Hudson's  description  of  this  lanibg,  and 
the  quotation,  if  genuine,  is  probably  the  longest 
description  of  his  travels  that  we  have  from  the 
pen  of  the  great  navigator.  He  says  that  he  sailed 
to  the  shore  in  one  of  their  canoes,  with  an  old  man 
who  was  chief  of  a  tribe.  There  he  found  a  house 
of  oak  bark,  circular  in  shape,  apparently  well 
built,  and  with  an  arched  roof. 

On  our  coining  near  the  house,  two  mats  were  spread  to 
sit  upon  and  immediately  some  food  was  served  in  well- 
made  red  wooden  bowls ;  two  men  were  also  dispatched  at 
once  with  bows  and  arrows  in  quest  of  game,  who  soon 
after  brought  a  pair  of  pigeons  which  they  had  shot 
They  likewise  killed  at  once  a  fat  dog  and  skinned  it 
in  great  haste,  with  shells  which  they  get  out  of  the 
water.  .  .  .  The  natives  are  a  very  good  people,  for 
when  they  saw  that  I  would  not  remain,  they  supposed 
that  I  was  afrjid  of  their  bows,  and  taking  the  anows 
they  broke  them  m  pieces  and  threw  them  into  the  fire. 

So  the  Half  Moon  drifted  along  "the  River  of  the 
Steep  Hills, "  through  the  golden  autumnal  weather, 
now  under  frowning  cliffs,  now  skirting  low  sloping 
shores  and  fertile  valleys,  till  at  len^di  the  shoaling 
water  warned  Hudson  that  he  could  not  penetrate 
much  farther.   He  knew  now  that  he  had  failed  to 


N 


W  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  TOE  HtJDSQN 
find  the  northwct  pamge  to  C.th«y  which  h«l 
been  the  object  of  hu  expedition;  but  he  had 
«pIored  one  of  the  worW.  noblert  riven  ftam 
it3  aouthtotheheadofiUnav^ablewatera. 

It  it  a  nutter  of  regret  to  .U  rtudenta  thac  ao 
httle  w  known  of  thi,  great  adventurer.    Sober 
histoiy  tells  us  that  no  authentic  portrait  of  him  i. 
extant;  but  I  like  to  figure  him  to  myself  as  drawn 
by  that  mythical  chronicler.  Diedrich  KnickeN 
bocker,  who  was  always  ready  to  help  out  fact 
with  fiction  and  both  with  humor.    He  picture. 
Henry  Hudson  as  "a  short,  brawny  old  genUeman 
with  a  double  chin,  a  mastiff  mouth  and  a  broad 
copper  nose  which  was  supposed  in  those  days 
to  have  acquired  iU  fiery  hue  from  the  constant 
neighborhood  of  his  tobacco  pipe.  He  wore  a  true 
Andrea  Fer.ara.  tucked  in  a  leathern  belt,  and  a 
commodore's  cocked  hat  on  one  side  of  his  head 
He  was  remarkable  for  always  jerking  up  his 
breeches  when  he  gave  his  orders  and  his  voice 
sounded  not  unlike  the  brattling  of  a  tin  trumpet 
owing  to  the  number  of  hard  northwesters  which 
he  had  swaUowed  in  the  course  of  his  sea-faring." 
This  account  accords  with  our  idea  of  this 
doughty  navigator  far  better  than  the  popuhir 
picture  of  the  forlorn  wWte-bearded  old  genUeman 


h 


m 


:^ 


m 


•4 


amii 

now 

tobt 

effec 

ney 

perL 

mysi 

of  tl 

chief 

with 

One 

who, 

joic© 

tion  I 

Th 

boun 

not  e 

Huds 

on  it 

about 

mane 

advei 

ences 

At  a 

Stonj 

party 


UP  THE  GBEAT  BIVKB  is 

amid  the  arctic  ice-floes.  The  cause  of  the  fiery 
nose  seems  more  Jilcely  to  have  been  spirits  tha?. 
tobacco,  for  Hudson  was  well  acquainted  wit  n.  the 
effects  of  strong  waters.  At  oneatageof  hir  JoiiZ-- 
ney  he  was  responsible  for  an  incident  which  m.-y 
perhaps  have  given  rise  to  the  Indian  legend  of  the 
mysterious  potations  attending  the  first  landing 
of  the  white  men.  Hudson  invited  certain  native 
chiefs  to  the  ship  and  so  successfully  plied  them 
with  brandy  that  they  were  completely  intoxicated. 
Oneiell  asleep  and  was  deserted  by  his  comrades, 
who,  however,  returned  next  day  and  were  re- 
joiced to  find  the  victim  professing  great  satisfac- 
tion over  his  experience. 

The  ship  had  now  reached  the  northernmost 
bounds  of  her  exploration  and  anchored  at  a  point 
not  exactly  determined  but  not  far  below  Albany. 
Hudson  sent  an  exploring  boat  a  little  farther,  and 
on  its  return  he  put  the  hehn  of  the  J7a//  Moon 
about  and  headed  the  red  lion  with  the  golden 
mane  southward.  On  this  homeward  course,  the 
adventurers  met  with  even  more  exciting  experi- 
ences than  had  marked  their  progress  up  the  river. 
At  a  place  near  the  mouth  of  Haverstraw  Bay  at 
Stony  Point  the  Half  Moon  was  becabned  and  a 
party  of  Mountain  Indiana  came  off  in  canoes  to 


■'it",  , 


0 


I*  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HDDSON 

of  the  rudder^post  into  the  cabin.  "^ 

To  understand  bow  thi«  H,«»*  _ 

e  smp     In  the  poop  were  situated  the  cabins  of 
the  captam  and  the  matp    n*  it  j      . 
We  a  deta;i»^  T  Hudson's  cabin  we 

WthH-    l       ?"^*^°"-    lt-h««htwasfive 
feet  three  mcies.    It  was  provided  with  locker,  a 

^da  medicme^est.  besides  such  other  em^!^ 
c^  -  I  «'obe.  a  con.pa..  a  silver  sZ^^l 
cross   staff,   a   brass   tinder-box.  pewtTtS' 


OP  THE  GREAT  filVER  ij 

for  which  he  sold  his  life.   The  window  in  the  stem 
projecting  over  the  water  was  evidentjy  standing 
open  in  order  i  >  admit  the  soft  September  air,  and 
the  Indian  saw  his  chance.    Into  this  window  he 
crept  and  from  it  started  to  make  off  with  the 
stolen  goods;  but  the  mate  saw  the  thief,  shot,  and 
killed  him.   Then  all  was  a  scene  of  wild  confusion. 
The  savages  scattered  from  the  ship,  some  taking 
to  their  canoes,  some  plunging  into  the  river.   The 
small  boat  was  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  stolen  goods, 
which  were  soon  recovered;  but,  as  the  boat  re- 
turned, a  red  hand  reached  up  from  the  water  to 
upset  it,  whereupon  the  ship's  cook,  seizing  a 
sword,  cut  off  the  hand  as  it  gripped  the  gunwale, 
and  the  wretched  owner  sank  never  to  reappear. 
On  the  f oUowing  day  Hudson  and  his  men  came 
into  conflict  with  more  than  a  hundred  savages, 
who  let  loose  a  flight  of  arrows.    But  one  of  the 
ship's  cannon  was  trained  upon  them,  and  one 
shot  followed  by  a  discharge  of  musketry  quickly 
ended  the  battle.    The  mariners  thereupon  made 
their  way  without  molesUtion  to  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  whence  they  put  to  sea  on  a  day  in  early 
October,  only  a  month  after  their  entrance  into  the 
bay. 
Hudson  was  destined  never  again  to  see  the 


'  '!  ■ 

t 

hi 


'Mi 


III 


16  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
c^intiy  f«,ra  which  he  set  out  on  thi,  que,t.  never 

«ndhadseeu«danewempi..fortheNetheHands. 
^e  CboU  possibly,  and  Verrazano  almost  cer- 
W'.^  v>3.ted  the  locahty  of  "the  Great 
River  before  h,m;  but  Hudson  was  in  the  truesT 
sense  .ts  d^coverer.  and  history  has  accorded  him 
lus  nghts.  Today  the  replica  of  the  Half  mZ 
hes  m  a  qu,et  backwater  of  the  Hudson  Kver  at 

ll  'T  °'  ^  ^""^"^^  ~  ^PP^  of  her  gild- 
7:  ^''  ■"'>  «°'J  !»-  ««y  pennants.  She^l 
makes  a  umque  appeal  to  our  imagination  as  we 
t^cy  tie  tmy  original  buffeting  the  ocean  waves 
and  feehng  her  way  along  uncharted  waters  to  the 
head  of  navigation.  To  see  even  the  copy  is  to 
feel  the  tiWll  of  adventure  and  to  realize  ZZm- 

r  ff     r  ^''  ""'"•"'  '^'•"^  --»«-  could 
not  affnght  nor  any  form  of  danger  daunt.' 


•J;     'I 


CHAPTER  n 

THADEBS   AND   SRTTLBBa 

As  he  was  returning  to  Holland  from  his  voyage  to 
America,  Hudson  was  held  with  his  ship  at  tlje 
port  of  Dartmouth,  on  the  ground  that,  being  an 
Englishman  by  birth,  he  owed  his  services  to  his 
country.  He  did  not  again  reach  the  Netherlands, 
but  he  forwarded  to  the  Dutch  East  India  Com- 
pany a  report  of  his  discoveries.  Immediately  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  Dutch  was  aroused  by  the  pros- 
pect of  a  lucrative  fur  trade,  as  Spain  had  been  set 
aflame  by  the  first  rumors  of  gold  in  Mexico  and 
Peru;  and  the  United  Provinces,  whose  indepen- 
dence had  just  been  acknowledged,  thereupon  laid 
claim  to  the  new  country. 

To  a  seafaring  people  like  the  Dutch,  the  ocean 
which  lay  between  them  and  their  American 
possessions  had  no  terrors,  and  the  twelve-year 
truce  just  concluded  with  Spain  set  free  a  vast 
energy  to  be  applied  to  commerce  and  oversea 
»  17 


aW 


^1 


m 


f-A- 


18  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

Bf  Moon.  Dutch  me«:h«nta  «a,t  out  a  second 
who  had  ^^  ^,^  g^^^  ^^  ^^      ^^o« 

sonsfomermate.    The  ve«el  was  soon  foUow«l 

xvew  was  fairly  set  in  motion.   But  the  aim  of  aU 

^Jed  by  the  promoters,  and  to  obtain  these 
traders  and  not  fanners  were  needed 

The  chromcle  of  these  years  is  melancholy  read 
^'o-  'overs  of  animals,  for  never  befo«  iTlt 
1"  tory  of  the  continent  was  there  such  a  whoTe! 
-le.  oi^aniz^l  slaughter  of  the  unoffendingl^: 
tu«s  of  the  forest.     Beavers  were  the  l^S 
-ffe^rs.    Their  skins  became  a  mediumTcS 
«ncy.  and  some  of  the  salaries  in  the  early  days 

^the  co,ony  wei.  paid  in  so  many  "beav^^'' 

^e  mamfest  of  one  cargo  mentions  7246  be.^ 

675  otters,  48  minks,  and  36  wildcats 
In  e^tabhshing  this  fur  trade  with  the  savages 

the  newcomers  primarily  required  trading^' 


TRADERS  AND  SETTLERS  19 

guarded  by  forta.  Late  in  1614  or  early  in  1615, 
therefore.  Fort  Nassau  was  planted  on  a  small 
island  a  little  below  the  site  of  Albany.  Here  the 
natives  brought  their  peltries  and  the  traders 
unpacked  their  stores  of  glittering  trinkets,  knives, 
and  various  implements  of  which  the  Indians  had 
not  yet  learned  the  use.  In  1617  Fort  Nassau  was 
so  badly  damaged  by  a  freshet  that  it  was  allowed 
to  fall  into  ruin,  and  later  a  new  stronghold  and 
trading-post  known  as  Fort  Orange  was  set  up 
where  the  city  of  Albany  now  stands. 

Meanwhile  in  1614  the  States-General  of  the 
United  Netherlands  had  granted  a  charter  to  a 
company  of  merchanU  of  the  city  of  Amsterdam, 
authorizing  their  vessels  "exclusively  to  visit  and 
navigate"  the  newly  discovered  region  lying  in 
America  between  New  France  and  Virginia,  now 
first  caUed  New  Netherland.  This  monopoly  was 
limited  to  four  voyages,  commencing  on  the  first  of 
January,  1615,  or  sooner.  If  any  one  else  traded 
in  this  territory,  his  ship  and  cargo  were  liable  to 
confiscation  and  the  owners  were  subject  to  a 
heavy  fine  to  be  paid  to  the  New  Netherland 
Company.  The  Company  was  chartered  for  only 
three  years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  a 
renewal  of  the  charter  was  refused,  although  the 


m 


vU 


'.iv 


"I'll 


u 


20  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
Company  waa  Kcensed  to  trade  in  the  territory 
from  year  to  year. 

In  1621  thw  haphazard  .ystem  was  changed  by 
the  granting  of  a  charter  which  superseded  all  pri- 
vate  agreements  and  smaller  enteqirises  by  the 
mcoiporation  of  "that  great  armed  commercial 
association."  the  Dutch  West  India  Company 
By  the  terms  of  the  charter  the  States-General 
engaged  to  secure  to  the  Company  freedom  of 
traffic  and  navigation  within  prescribed  limits, 
which  included  not  only  the  coast  and  countries 
of  Af nca  from  the  Tropic  of  Cancer  to  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  but  also  the  coasts  of  America 
Withm  these  vague  and  very  extended  bounds  the 
Company  was  empowered  to  make  contracU  and 
alliances,  to  build  forts,  to  establish  government 
to  advance  the  peopling  of  fruitful  and  unsettled 
parts,  and  to  "do  all  that  the  service  of  those 
countries  and  the  profit  and  increase  of  trade  shaD 
require." 

For  these  services  the  States-General  agreed  to 
grant  a  subsidy  of  a  million  guilders,  or  about  half 
a  million  dollars,  "provided  that  we  with  half  the 
aforesaid  mUHon  of  guilders,  shall  receive  and  bear 
profit  and  risk  in  the  same  manner  as  the  other 
members  of  this  Company."  In  case  of  war.  which 


TRADERS  AND  SETTLERS  n 

wa»  far  from  improbable  at  this  time,  when  the 
twelve  years'  t  ice  with  Spain  was  at  an  end,  the 
Company  was  to  be  assisted,  if  the  situation  at 
the  country  would  in  any  wise  admit  of  it,    with 
sixteen  warships  and  four  yachts,  fully  armed  and 
equipped,  properly  mounted,  and  proA  idtd  In  all 
respects  both  with  brass  and  other  canaon  and 
a  proper  quantity  of  ammunition,  together  with 
double  suits  of  running  and  standing  rigging,  sails, 
cables,  anchors,  and  other  things  thereto  belonging, 
such  as  are  proper  to  be  used  in  all  great  expedi- 
tions."  These  ships  were  to  be  manned,  victualed, 
and  maintained  at  the  expense  of  the  Company, 
which  in  its  turn  was  to  contribute  and  maintain 
sixteen  like  ships  of  war  and  four  yachts. 

The  object  of  forming  this  great  company  with 
almost  unlimited  power  was  twofold,  at  once 
poHtical  and  commercial.  Its  creators  planned 
the  summoning  of  additional  military  resc  roes  to 
confront  the  hostile  power  of  Spain  and  also  the 
more  thorough  colonization  and  development  of 
New  Netherland.  In  these  purposes  they  were 
giving  expression  to  the  motto  of  the  House  of 
Nassau:  "I  will  maintain." 

Two  years  elapsed  between  the  promulgation  of 
the  charter  and  the  first  active  operations  of  the 


r 


■■'■ '(. 

hi 


4K,t 


'4m 


M  DUTCH  AND  KNSUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
Wert  Indi.  Company;  but  thw^jhout  thi.  period 
the  «„  w«  electric  with  pl«,.  for  occupyij^nd 
«|tthng  the  new  land  beyond  the  «..  Sy^ 
March  1683  the  .hip  IVieu  Ne^U^  J^^^ 
the  cotony  whose  n«ne  it  bore,  under  the  com- 

finrtlWor-General.   With  him  embarked  «,«« 
th^y  f-mahe.  of  WaUoon,.  who  were  de««.d- 
n*.       ^'«'«"t  -'•'Se-  from  the  «,uthem 
provmces  of   the  Netherlands,  which,   being  in 
general  attached  to  the  Roman  Catho".  cZch 
had  dechned  to  join  the  confederation  of  northern' 
PK.vmce.in  1579.   Sturdy  and  industrious  arti«m. 
of  vigorous  Protestant  stock,  the  Walloons  were 
a  valuable  element  in  tao  colonization  of  New 
^^v't;   ^^^''^—ths-voyagethesl^; 

then  called  the  Mauritius  in  honor  of  the  Stad- 
holder,  ftince  Maurice,  and  the  leaders  began  at 
onceto  dwtribute  setUers  with  a  view  to  covering 
«.  much  counto^  as  was  defensible.  Some  were 
Wtm  Manhattan,  several  famihes  were  sent  to  the 
South  Biver.  now  the  Delaware,  others  to  Fresh 
River,  kter  caUed  the  Comiecticut.  and  othen.  to 
the  western  shore  of  Long  Island.  The  remaining 
colomsts.  led  by  Adriaen  Joris.  voyaged  up  the 


TRADEB8  AND  SETTLEBS  n 

fcngth  of  the  Mauritiua.  landed  at  Port  Orange, 
and  made  their  home  there.    Thiu  the  era  <rf 
settlement  as  dirtinguidied  from  trade  had  begun. 
The  dcMription  of  the  first  setUeia  at  WUtwyck, 
on  the  western  shore  of  the  gnat  river,  may  be 
applied  to  all  the  pioneer  Dutch  colonists.    "Most 
of  them  could  neither  read  nor  write.   They  wet*  a 
wild,  uncouth,  rough,  and  most  of  the  time  a 
drunken  crowd.    They  lived  in  small  log  huts, 
thatched  with  straw.    They  wore  rough  clothes. 
Mid  in  the  winter  were  dressed  in  skins.   They  sub- 
sisted on  a  little  com.  game,  and  fish.    They  were 
afraid  of  neither  man,  God,  nor  the  Devil.    Th^ 
were  laying  deep  the  foundation  of  the  Emnire 
State."'  '^ 

The  costume  of  the  wife  of  a  typical  settler 
usually  consisted  of  a  single  garment,  reaching 
from  neck  to  ankles.  In  the  summer  time  she 
went  bareheaded  and  barrfooted.  She  was  rough, 
coarse,  ignorant,  uncultivated.  She  helped  he^ 
husband  to  build  their  log  hut.  to  plant  his  grain, 
and  to  gather  his  crops.  If  Indians  appeared  in 
her  husband's  absence,  she  grasped  the  rifle, 
gathered  her  children   about  her.  and   with  a 

jJ^.iK,'"™"*"''''  ■"'  A"*^™  H.  Vm  Bun  in  the  PnnA 


m 

ft 


,'i 


V 


) 


M  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
d.untJeMcou«ge  defended  them  even  unto  death 
nu  may  not  be  .  nm»ntk  prewitation  of  the 
towfather.  «,d  fomnother.  of  the  Sute.  but  It 
bear,  the  mark,  of  truth  and  .how.  u.  a  rtalwart 
race  rtrong  to  hold  their  own  in  the  .truggle  for 
«i.tence  and  in  the  ertabliahment  of  a  penna- 
nent  community. 

F«m  the  time  of  the  founding  of  MttlemenU, 

outward-bound  .hipsfromtheNetherland.  brought 
•upphe.  for  the  colonists  and  carried  back  car- 

»»«  of  furs,  tobacco,  and  mai«e.    In  April.  1685 

there   was   shipped   to   the  new  settlement.   i[ 

valuable  load  made  up  of  one  hundred  and  three 

head  of  hve  .tock  -  stallions.  ma.e..  bulls,  and 

cow. -beside,  hog.  and  sheep,  all  distributed 

m  two  ships  with  a  thin!  vessel  as  convoy.    He 

chronicler,  Nicholaes  Janraoon  Van  Wassenaer 

give,  a  detailed  account  of  their  dispo«il  wUch 

illurtrates  the  traditional  Dutch  orderliness  and 

deanlmess.    He  tell,  us  that  each  animal  had  its 

own  stall,  and  that  the  floor  of  each  staU  wa. 

covered  with  three  feet  of  sand,  which  served  as 

ballast  for  the  ship.    Each  animal  also  had  its  re- 

spective  «^ant.  who  knew  what  hi.  reward  was 

to  be  If  he  delivered  his  charge  alive.    Beneath  the 

cattle-deck  were  stowed  three  hundred  tun.  of 


TRADERS  AND  SETTLERS  as 

ffcdi  water,  which  wm  pumped  up  for  the  live 
stw*.  la  addition  to  the  load  of  cattle,  the  ahip 
carried  agricultural  implemenU  and  "all  furniture 
p««—  for  the  dairy."  ai  weU  as  a  number  of 
settlers. 

The  year  ie2«  mariced  an  important  event,  the 
birth  of  a  little  daughter  in  the  household  of  Jan 
Joris  Rapaelje.  the  "first-bom  Christian  daughter 
in  New  Netherhmd."  Her  advent  was  followed 
by  the  appearance  of  a  steadily  increasing  group 
of  native  citizens,  and  Dutch  cradles  multiplied  in 
the  cabins  of  the  various  settiements  from  Fort 
Orange  to  New  Amsterdam.  The  latter  place 
was  established  as  a  fortified  post  and  the  seat 
of  government  for  the  colony  in  1626  by  Peter 
Minuit,  tile  third  Director-General,  who  in  tiiis 
year  purchased  Manhattan  Island  from  tiie  In- 
dians. 

The  colony  was  now  Uiriving,  witii  the  whole 
settiement  "bravely  advanced"  and  grain  growing 
as  high  as  a  man.  But  across  tiiis  bright  picture 
feU  the  dark  shadow  of  negro  slavery,  which,  it  is 
said,  the  Dutch  were  tiie  first  to  introduce  upon 
the  mainland  of  North  America  in  1625  or  1P«!6. 
Among  the  first  slaves  were  Simon  Congo,  Anthony 
Portuguese,   John   Francisco,   Paul  d'Angola  — 


■,1 
^11 


mv--. 


i 


"  »»TCH  AlVD  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
n^«  e^Jently  drawn  f„,„.  their  native  coun- 
^^-«nd«,ven  other,.    Two  yean,  later  came 

WeU  Beloved  Brother  in  Christ  the  Reve^d 

^  '"*''  «r*  *^*  °'"»'"«  Michaehus.  hav! 

^uch  hmdered  and  distressed  because  he  can  ^ 
no  competent  maid  servants  "and  the^fa 
la^women  are  thievish.  Ia.y.  and  useless  ^  » 
Let  us  leave  it  to  those  who  have  the  heartl^d 

PMMge  and  the  suffermgs  of  the  poor  neirroes  « 
-t  down  in  the  log-books  of  theXeTTr 
^«>*«andthe^r«,^^^,„,.  Itis^^^i!' 
to  the  more  soft-hearted  of  us  to  feel  tZu 

"uui  service.    They  received  a  arant  of 

pZe  27    '.'^  '"^^  °'  -">.  -C 

Pe«e.  or  beans,  and  a  hog  worth  eight  dollars  in 


TRADERS  AND  SETTLEBS  87 

modem  cuwency.  If  they  faUed  in  this  payment 
they  lost  their  recently  acquired  liberty  and  re- 
turned to  the  status  of  slaves.  Meanwhile,  their 
children,  already  bom  or  yet  to  be  bom.  remained 
[     under  obUgation  to  snve  the  Company. 

Apparently  the  Dutch  were  conscious  of  no  sense 
of  wrong-doing  in  the  importation  of  the  blacks. 
A  chief  justice  of  the  King's  Bench  in  England 
expressed  the  opinion  that  it  was  right  that  pagans 
should  be  slaves  to  Christians,  because  the  former 
were  bondsmen  of  Satan  while  the  latter  were 
servants  of  God.     Even  this  casuist,  however, 
found  difficulty  in  explaining  why  it  was  just  that 
one  bom  of  free  and  Christian  parents  should 
remain  enslaved.    But  granting  that  the  problems 
which  the  setUers  were  creating  in  these  early  days 
were  bound  to  cause  much  trouble  later  both  to 
themselves  and  to  the  whole  countiy,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  slave  labor  contributed  to  the  advance- 
ment of  agriculture  and  the  other  enterprises  of 
the  colony.    Free  labor  was  scarce  and  expensive, 
owing  both  to  the  cost  of  importing  it  from  Europe 
and  to  the  allurements  of  the  fur  trade,  which 
drew  off  the  boer-knecht  from  farming.   Slave  labor 
was  therefore  of  the  highest  value  in  exploiting 
the  resources  of  the  new  country. 


fffe 


i'i 


■'r  i 


ml 

■1  ■»■.  -, 


I 


«8  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

^-        These  resomces  were  indeed  abundant.     The 
^e  w«  tempe«te,  with  a  long  season  of  JJ; 
andharvens.    Grap<svines  produced  an  abunl^ 
-Pply  o    wines.     The  forests  contained  Tv^ 
va^ety  of  animals.    Innumerable  birds  nu^e^ 
wilderness  vocal.    Turkeys  and  wild  fowUffe^ 
a  vanety  of  food.    The  rivers  pr«,u  J  2^ 
-e.y  kmd  and  oysters  which  the  letters  7^1 
colonists  describe  as  a  foot  long,  though  this  il 
«>mewhat  staggering  to  the  credulity  ^  a  ht^ 

age.  DeVries.oneofthepatroons.orproplto« 
whose  unagmation  was  cert«nly  of  a  Uy  Z^' 
teUs  us  that  he  had  seen  a  New  NetherlandeS 
«ghtHour  thrushes  or  nuu«.bi«b  at  one  Zj 
He  adds  that  he  has  noticed  crabs  of  e,^^^ 
flavor  on  the  flat  shores  of  the  bay      ^ 

^w.;.hesaysna,vely."areoftheIwofo: 
ftmce  s  flag,  orange,  white  and  blue  so  th«f  ,u 

«abs  show  clearly  enough  that  wetjttpl^ 
^ethe«,unti^andthatitbelongstoI"  ^Z 
the  very  crabs  thus  beckoned  to  emnirefc 

andsn«llerr&6oofe„(Anglicizedinto«flyb™; 


TBADERS  AND  SETTLERS  n 

which  pUed  between  New  Amsterdam  and  Fort 
Orange,  loaded  with  suppKes  and  household  goods. 
Tying  the  prow  of  his  boat  to  a  tree  at  the  water's 
edge,  the  enterprising  skipper  turned  pedler  and 
opened  his  packs  of  beguiling  wares  for  the  house- 
wife at  the  farm  beside  the  river.    Together  with 
the  goods  in  his  pack,  he  doubtless  also  opened  his 
budget  of  news  from  the  other  setUements  and 
told  the  farmer's  wife  how  the  houses  about  the 
fort  at  Manhattan  had  increased  to  thirty,  how 
the  new  Director  was  strengthening  the  fort, 
and  how  all  promised  well  for  the  future  of  New 
Netherland. 

For  the  understanding  of  these  folk.  who.  with 
their  descendants,  have  left  an  indelible  impression 
on  New  York  as  we  know  it  today,  we  must  leave 
the  thread  of  narrati/e  in  America,  abandon  the 
sequence  of  dates,  and  turn  back  to  the  Holland 
of  some  years  earlier.  Remembering  that  those 
who  cross  the  sea  change  their  skies  but  not  their 
hearta,  we  may  be  sure  that  the  same  quaKties 
which  marked  the  inhabitants  of  the  Netherlands 
showed  themselves  in  the  emigrants  to  the  colony 
on  the  banks  of  the  Mauritius. 

When  the  truce  with  Spain  was  announced,  a 
few  months  before  Hudson  set  sail  for  Ameri^, 


I- 


so  DUTCH  AND  KNGLKR  nv  m™. 

KWtUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

-tion  o;  the  houZ  «d  l^^Tf  "-"'- 
of  th«d„«,vi^  in  ^  the  cTuLTVh"^ 

Pe«ec«tion  ;«:J^y;:^"'^'>''-^«^and 

bell.  oe«ed  rin^CJVe  .7""  ''■°^• 

than  the  Kin  Jl^     •   .  '""mmations  faded 

and  ^  '     i^  ^'•""'^  *°  *^«  ^«l"e  of  treaties 

tbeyt^Tett^ZTSS^S'^'-'^r-- 
-  the  end  of  .i7S^  I^t^rS'  t  '*  '"*' 

o-^^rthttrhZ^Lt^^^ 

be  deceived  themselves.  ^mg  easy  to 

Motley  says  of  the  Dutch  Republic  that  "it 
had  courage   enterpri..  i„temZe.  L^l  i 
""'  ^"^  '"*"'=*  ^  ^elf-govenuuent  and  self-he,p. 


TRADERS  ANn  SETTLERS  S] 

hatred  of  tyranny,  the  disposition  to  domineer, 
aggressiveness,  greediness,  inquisitiveness,  inso- 
lence.  the  love  of  science,  of  Kberty.  and  of  money." 
As  the  state  is  only  a  sum  of  component  parts,  its 
qualities  must  be  those  of  its  citizens,  and  of  these 
citizens  our  colonists  were  undoubtedly  typical. 
We  may  therefore  accq)t  this  description  as  pic- 
turing their  menUl  and  spiritual  quaKties  in  the 
pioneer  days  of  their  venture  in  the  New  World. 


I.     l| 


SJ 


I/; 


CHAPTER  ni 

PATBOOIW  AND  M>BD8  OF   THE  MAMOB 

^e  Umte^  Netheriands.  ^  we  have  seen.  gTt^ 
to  the  Dutch  West  India  Con,^y  .'^ 
c^veymg  powers  nearly  equaling  and  often  o^^^ 
^rngthoseoftheStatesthemselves.    TheW^ 

i^d,aCon,panyintun..withaviewtostimukti^ 
«l^uaUon.  granted  to  certain  members  1^2 

^th  the  authonty  of  the  Company.    And  for  a 

toe  It  seemed  as  though  the  patroonship  would  b! 
thepxevadmgformofgrantinNewNetherland 
The  system  of  patroonships  seems  to  have  been 

A«^rs  of  U.e  West  India  Company  and  a  lapi! 
daty  of  Amsterdam,  who  later  became  th.  ml 


I 


PA-raoONS  AND  LORDS  OF  TOE  BIANU.  38 
New  NeUierland  could  not  be  carried  on  without 
labor,  and  that  labor  could  not  beprocured  without 
permanent  «,ttle».    "Open  up  the  counter  with 
•gnculture:  that  murt  be  our  first  step."  was  his 
uigent  advice;  but  the  dwellers  in  the  Netherlands 
finding  themselves  prosperous  in  their  old  homes' 
saw  no  reason  for  emigrating,  and  few  offered 
ftemselves  for  the  overseas  settlements.     The 
West  India  Company  was  not  inclined  to  involve 
Itself  m  further  expense  for  colonization,  and 
matters  threatened  to  come  to  a  halt,  when  some- 
one   ven.   likely   the   shrewd   KiKaen   himself, 
evolved  the  plan  of  granting  !«««  estates  to  men 
vnlhng  to  pay  the  cost  of  settling  and  operating 
them.     From  this  suggestion  the  scheme  of  pa- 
troonship  was  developed. 
The  list  of  "Privileges  and  Exemptions"  pub- 

hshed  by  the  West  India  Company  inl629declared 
^t  an  should  be  acknowledged  patroons  of  New 
Netherland  who  should,  within  the  space  of  four 
years,  plant  there  a  colony  of  fifty  souls  upwards  of 
fifteen  years  old.  "The  ishmd  of  the  Manhattes" 
w*i  reserved  for  the  Company.  Thepatroons.it 
was  stipulated,  must  make  known  the  situation 
of  their  proposed  settlements,  but  they  were  al- 
lowed to  change  should  their  first  location  prove 


w 


I': 


■^ 


m: 


m 


84  DUTCH  AND  ENGU8H  ON  THE  HDDSQN 
«««t«rf«to.y  The  land,  were  to  extend  «xte«. 
jHes  along  the  ^ore  on  one  side  of  .  na^^ 

nver  or«ghtnule,onboth«de.of  a„Ver.31o 
tomto  the  country  a,  the  situation  of  the  colonies 
^■^^T"""^'"^-  '"'eP-troon.were 
entitled  to  dn,,ose  of  their  grant,  by  will,  and  they 
wm^free  to  traffic  along  thecoast  of  NewNeth^ 

J^for  all  g«Hls  except  fu«.  which  were  to  be  the 
^al  perquisite  of  the  West  India  Company 
They  wereforbidden  to  aiJow  the  weaving  of  uZ 

in  Holland  being  hung^^  for  raw  n^terial. 
The  Company  agreed  that  it  would  not  take 

anyone  from  lie  service  of  the  patroon  during  the 
years  for  wUch  the  «^.nt  was  bound,  aj^ 
coWt  who  should  without  written  ^rmisZ 

h^  to  freedom"  was  to  be  proceeded  against 
with  aU  the  available  force  of  the  few.  riTT 
capeds^ant  would  fare  ill  if  hi,  case  came  before 

^IT^^T '*."'"'  °"''  °'  ">«P«««atives  of  a 
patroon  to  administer  high,  middle,  and  low  jus- 
tice-that  «.  to  appoint  magistmtes  and  erect 
ZZ:t  ^:^^  '•"'  -«•  -H  «««les  of  cSL 
«I«.  with  breaches  of  the  civil  law.    In  dvil  cases 


I 


PA1B00N8  AND  LORDS  OP  IHE  BIANOB  86 
din.ute.  over  contact.,  title.,  md  «,ch  matter, 
whew  the  amount  in  litigation  exceeded  twenty 
dollar.,  a.  well  a.  in  criminal  ca«i.  .fleeting  life 
and  h-mb.  it  wa.  powible  to  appeal  to  the  Director 
and  Council  at  Fort  Amsterdam;  but  the  local 
authorities  craftily  evaded  this  provision  by  com- 
pelling their  colonists  to  promise  not  to  appeal 
from  the  tribunal  of  the  manor. 

ITie  tcherpreehier,  or  hangman,  wasinduded  with 
the  superintendent,  the  »clumifiecaal.  or  sheriff,  and 
the  magistrates  as  part  of  the  manorial  court  sys- 
tem. One  such  seherprechter  named  Jan  de  Neger 
perhaps  a  freed  negro,  is  named  among  the  dwell' 
era  at  Renaselaerswyck  and  we  find  him  presenting 
a  claim  for  thirty-eight  florins  ($ia.oo)  for  execut- 
ing Wolf  Nysen. 

No  man  in  the  manorial  colony  was  to  be  de- 
pnved  of  life  or  property  except  by  sentence  of  a 
court  composed  of  five  people,  and  all  accused 
persons  were  entitled  to  a  speedy  and  impartial 
trial.  As  we  find  Kttle  complaint  of  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice  in  all  the  records  of  disputes,  re- 
proaches, and  recriminations  which  mark  the  rec- 
ords of  those  old  manors,  we  must  assume  that  the 
processes  of  law  were  carried  on  in  harmony  with 
thespmt  of  fairness  prevailing  in  the  homecountiy 


^*' 


m 


>•  * 


w 


I'  I 


W  DUTCH  AND  ENGU8H  ON  THE  HUDSON 

Even  before  the  We.t  Indi.  Comp«,y  h«l 
promulgated  it.  darter.  .  nmnber  of  rich  mer- 
dunte  b^  .vailed  thenuelve.  of  the  opportunity 
to  ««ure  hmd.  under  the  offered  privilege,  and 
«empt.on..  Godyn  and  Blomnwert.  in  a«oci.- 
tion  with  Captain  David  de  Vrie.  and  other.,  took 

*T  "^  M*r^**"^  °"  ^'^^"^  »«y'  «•«!  here 
they  ertabhrfied  a  colony  called  "Swaanendael." 
which  wa,  destroyed  by  the  Indians  in  1632 
Myndert  Myndertsen  established  his  settlement 
on  the  mainland  behind  Staten  Island,  and  his 
manor  extended  from  Achter  Kul.  or  Newark 
Bay,  to  the  Tappan  Zee. 

to  Mi  V  fp  f^\P»*«"»-  "-"ded  was  granted 
to  ^chiel  Pauw  in  1630.    In  the  documentary 
wcorf  the  Director  and  CouncH  of  New  Neth- 
«rland.    under    the    authority    of    their    High 
Mightmesses.  the  Lords  SUtes-General  and  the 
West  India  Company  Department  of  Amster- 
dam, testrfy  to  the  bargain  made  with  the  na- 
tives, who  are   treated   throughout  with  legal 
ceremony  as  if  they  were  high  contracting  parties 
and  fully  capable  of  understanding  the  tram,- 
•rtion  m  which  they  were  engaged.    These  origi- 
nal  owners   of   the   soil    appeared    before  X 
CoHnc.1  and  declared  that  in  consideration  of 


t*» 


m 


'>¥• 


n 


H>j'.. 


r„ 


l-^ 


H-: 


^i^m^^s^^. 


'  ■    lompanv    J,,, 

proBiulgatw)  lY^  rh.ar!,  ,r  .,f  ,,,,' 

dianbi  had 
to  tcrure  lai 

Uoi.  with  CapUia  l>av,d  ,i..  Vn...  an. I  ol,', ,.„,  hi 

up  a  krgt   JiTnt..ri    .  ,,   (>,, ,.  .  , 

they  .•,st.al<li 

B'hi'Ii    was    (!,-,'nn..|      ,.     ,;,       ),, 

M.v,-Kiomw»^a»4(jiK.,HHvis«k.>imn.'ato  .,., , ,„.,„  „. 

on  the  mainkn^bb^^^i,^  r.-,!.,,,!,  ,.„,i  i,.' 
manor  extendi    ■  ^    l  ,,,  ., 

Bay,  to  tbf  ' 

One  of  the  firsi  p.a.„,.  r.-.H,.]  w,^,.  grant.-..' 
to  M,chR.l  Ph.w  in  ifis,,,     j„   ti,^.  d,,,u^,nt„,, 
re<-ora   tL,-  Olr^^lor   ar„l  <V„n,-n  r.f   NVw  NVth' 
<"r)and,    under    fh  ^ 

Mifthtinesses.  Ui,>  i 

"f-t    India  (  , 

J  ....  •^m^;ter- 

OlUll,    tCillfv     I. 

«:,.  1    "  '»*- 

lives,    who    isr 

cerctnony  Sd  if 
and  /tiijj   ,.^.,, 

"     frail 
actJOii  in  whir/ 


I 


PATBOONS  AND  LORDS  OP  THE  MANOR  87 

certain  mereh«ndue,th?y  agreed  to  "traMfer.cede, 
convey  and  deliver  for  the  benefit  of  the  Honor- 
able Mr.  Michiel  Paauw"  as  true  and  lawful  free- 
hold, the  land  at  Hobocan  Hackingh,  opposite 
Manhattan,  so  that  "he  or  his  heirs  may  take  pos- 
session of  the  aforesaid  land,  live  on  it  in  peace, 
inhabit,  own  and  use  it . .  .  without  that  they,  the 
conveying  party  shaU  have  or  retain  the  least  pre- 
tension, right,  powe-  or  authority  either  concern- 
ing ownership  or  sovereignty:  but  herewith  they 
desist,  abandon,  withdraw  and  renounce  in  behalf 
of  aforesaid  now  and  forever  totally  and  flnaDy." 
It  must  have  been  a  pathetic  and  yet  a  divert- 
ing spectacle  when  the  simple  red  men  *    is  swore 
away  their  title  to  the  broad  acres  of  their  fathers 
for  a  consideration  of  beads,  shells,  blankets,  and 
trinkets;  but.  when  they  listened  to  the  subtleties 
of  Dutch  law  as  expounded  by  the  Dogbenys  at 
Fort  Amsterdam,  they  may  have  been  persuaded 
that  their  simple  minds  could  never  contend  with 
such  masters  of  language  and  that  they  were  on 
the  whole  fortunate  to  secure  something  in  ex- 
change for  their  land,  which  they  were  bound  to 
lose  in  any  event. 

It  has  been  the  custom  to  ascribe  to  the  Dutch 
and  Quakers  the  system  <rf  paying  for  lands  taken 


1 

m 

KM      i 

A't.      ' 

■n 

;f 

Ui^'- 


t: 


*4a  -I 


iBi' 


88  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
ftom  the  Indians.    But  Kske  points  out  that  this 
conception  «  .mistakeand  hegoeson  tosUte  that 
t  was  a  general  custom  among  the  English  and 

that  not  a  wod  of  groimd  in  New  England  ™s 
taken  from  the  savages  without  recompense,  ex- 
cept when  the  Pequots  began  a  war  and  Z. 
«termmated.      The    "payment"   in    all   cases 
however,  was  a  mere  farce  and  of  value  only  in 

cr^atmg  good  feeling  between  savages  and  settlers. 
As  to  the  ethics  of  the  transaction,  much  might  be 
smdonbotisid^,.   The  red  men  would  be  Justified 
m  feeling  that  they  had  been  kept  in  ignoi  ^.ce  of 
the  rehtive  miportance  of  what  they  gave  and 
what  they  received,  while  the  whites  might  main- 
tarn  that  they  c^ted  the  values  which  ensued 
upon  their  purchaseand  that,  if  they  had  not  come, 
lands  along  the  Great  River  would  have  remained 
of  httle  account.    In  any  case  the  reconled  trans- 
action did  not  prove  a  financial  triumph  for  the 
purchaser,  as  the  enterprise  cost  much  in  trouble 
and  outlay  and  did  not  meet  expenses.    Heprop- 
^y  was  resold  to  the  Company  seven  years  lat« 
at  a  pnce    however,  of  twenty-six  thousand 
guilders,  which  represented  a  fair  margin  of  profit 
over  the  "certain  merchandise"  paid  to  the  origi- 
nal owners  eight  years  earlier. 


PAIBOONS  AND  LOBDS  OP  TOE  MANOE  89 

Veiy  soon  after  the  purchase  of  the  land  on  the 
w^  shore  of  the  North  River.  Pauw  bought 
under  the  same  elaborate  legal  fonns.  the  whole  of 
Staten  Mand.  so  called  in  honor  of  the  Sfcwfen  or 
States-General.    To  the  estate  he  gave  the  title 
of  Pavoma.  a  Latini2ed  form  of  his  own  name 
Staten  Island  was  subsequently  purchased  from 
Pauw  by  the  Company  and  transferred  (with  the 
«ception  of  the  bouw^  of  Captain  De  Vries)  to 
0.melis  Melyn,  who  was  thus  added  to  the  list 
ofp^troons.    Other  regions  also  were  e««ted  into 
patroonships;  but  ahnost  all  were  either  unsuccess- 
ful from  the  beginning  or  short-Kved. 

The  patroonship  most  successfal.  most  per- 
m«n«.t  and  most  typical  was  Rem«eh««wyck. 
which  oflf^  the  best  opportunity  for  a  study  of 
the  Dutch  colonial  system  Van  Renr  daer 
though  he  did  not  apparently  intend  to  make  a 
home  for  himself  in  New  Netherknd.  was  one  of 
the  first  to  ask  for  a  grant  of  knd.  He  received. 
subject  to  payment  to  the  Indians,  a  tract  of 
country  to  the  north  and  south  of  Fort  Orange,  but 
not  mdudmg  that  trading-post.  which  like  the 

tteW«rt  India  Company.   By  virtue  cf  this  grant 
and  later  purchases  Van  Bem«Kdaer  acquired  a 


If 

jh-f  1 

M, 

fa 


K^f^ 


':lr 


40  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
tract  comprising  what  are  now  the  counties  of 
Albany  and  Bensselaer  with  part  of  Columbia, 
Of  this  tract,  called  Rensselaerswyck,  Van  Rens- 
selaer was  named  patroon,  and  five  other  men, 
Godyn,  Blommaert,  De  Laet.  Bissels.  and  Mous- 
sart,  whom  he  had  been  forced  to  conciliate  by 
takjng  into  partnership,  were  named  codirectors. 
Later  the  claims  of  these  five  associates  were 
bought  out  by  the  Van  Rensselaer  family. 

In  1630  the  first  group  of  emigrants  for  this  new 
colony  sailed  on  the  ship  Eendragt  and  reached 
Fort  Orange  at  the  beginning  of  June.   How  crude 
was  the  settlement  which  they  established  we  may 
judge  from  the  report  made  some  years  later  by 
Father  Jogues,  a  Jesuit  missionary,  who  visited 
Rensselaerswyck  in  1643.    He  speaks  of  a  miser- 
able little  fort  built  of  logs  and  having  four  or  five 
pieces  of  Breteuil  cannon.    He  describes  also  the 
colony  as  corcposed  of  about  a  hundred  persons, 
"who  reside  in  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  houses 
built  along  the  river  as  each  fouid  most  con- 
venient."  The  patroon's  agent  was  esUblished  in 
the  principal  house,  while  in  another,  which  served 
also  as  a  church,  was  domiciled  'he  dcmine,  the 
Reverend  Johannes  Megapolensis,  Jr.    The  houses 
he  describes  as  built  of  boards  and  roofed  with 


I  " 


PATBOONS  AND  LORDS  OF  THE  MANOR  41 

thatch,  having  no  mason-work  except  in  the  chim- 
neys. The  settlers  had  found  some  ground  already 
cleared  by  the  natives  and  had  planted  it  with 
wheat  and  oats  in  order  to  provide  beer  and  horse- 
fodder;  but  being  hemmed  in  by  somewhat  barren 
hills,  they  had  been  obliged  to  separate  in  order  to 
obtain  arable  land.  The  setUements.  therdore, 
spread  over  two  or  three  leagues. 

The  fear  of  raids  from  the  savages  prompted  the 
patroon  to  advise  that,  with  the  exception  of  the 
brewers  and  tobacco  planters  who  were  obliged  to 
live  on  their  plantations,  no  other  settlers  should 
estebliah  themselves  at  any  distance  from  the 
church,  which  was  the  village  center;  for.  says 
the  prudent  Van  Rensselaer,  "every  one  residing 
where  he  thinks  fit,  separated  far  from  others, 
would  be  unfortunately  in  danger  of  their  Hves 
in  the  same  manner  as  sorrowful  experience  has 
taught  around  the  Manhattans."    Our  sympathy 
goes  out  to  those  early  settlers  who  lived  almost 
as  serfs  under  their  patroon.  the  women  forbidden 
to  spin  or  weave,  the  men  prohibited  from  trading 
in  the  furs  which  they  saw  building  up  fortunes 
around  them.   They  sat  by  their  lonely  hearths  in 
a  little  clearing  of  the  forest,  listening  to  the  howl 
of  wolves  and  fearing  to  see  a  savage  face  at  the 


m 

m 


.1  ? 


48  DUTCH  AND  BNGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
window.     This  eziatence  was  a  tragic  change 
indeed  from  the  Kvely  social  existence  along  the 
canals  of  Amsterdam  or  on  the  stoops  of  Sottei< 
dam. 

Nor  can  we  feel  that  these  tenants  were  likely  to 
be  greatly  cheered  by  the  library  established  at 
Renaselaerswyck,  unless  there  were  hidden  away  a 

list  of  more  interesting  books  than  those  described 
in  the  patroon's  invoice  as  sent  in  an  ooiterte,  or 
oriental,  box.  These  volumes  include  a  Scripture 
concordance,  the  works  of  Calvin,  of  Livy.  and  of 
Ursinus,  the  friend  of  Melanchthon,  A  TreaUse  on 
Arithmetic  by  Adrian  Melius,  The  Hietory  of  the 
Holy  Land,  and  ^  work  on  natural  theology.  As 
an  the  titles  are  in  Latin,  it  U  to  be  presumed 
that  the  body  of  the  text  was  written  in  the  same 
language,  and  we  may  imagine  the  %ht  and  cheer- 
ful mood  which  they  inspired  in  their  readers  after 
a  day  of  manual  toil. 

I  suspect,  however,  that  the  evening  hours  of 
these  tenants  at  Bensselaerswyck  were  spent  in 
anxious  keeping  of  accounts  with  a  wholesome  fear 
of  the  patroon  before  the  eyes  of  the  accountants. 
Life  on  the  bouiceriee  was  by  no  means  inexpensive, 
even  according  to  modem  standards.  Bearing  in 
mind  that  a  stiver  was  equivalent  to  two  cents  of 


PATROONS  AND  LORDS  OP  THE  MANOB  48 

OUT  currency  and  a  florin  to  forty  cents,  it  ia  ea«y 
to  calculate  the  cost  of  living  in  the  decade  be- 
tween 1680  and  1640  as  set  down  in  the  accounts 
of  Rensselaerswyck.  A  blanket  cost  eight  florins, 
a  hat  ten  florins,  an  iron  anvil  one  hundred  florins, 
a  musket  and  cartouche  box  nineteen  florins,  a 
copper  sheep's  bell  one  florin  and  six  stivers.  On 
the  other  hand  all  domestic  produce  was  cheap, 
because  the  tenant  and  patroon  preferred  to  dis- 
pose of  it  in  the  settlements  rather  than  by  trans- 
porting it  to  New  Amsterdam.  We  learn  with 
envy  that  butter  was  only  eight  stivers  or  sixteen 
cents  per  pound,  a  pair  of  fowl  two  florins,  a  beaver 
twenty-five  florins. 

How  hard  were  the  terms  on  which  the  tenants 
held  their  leases  is  apparent  from  a  rqwrt  written 
by  the  guardians  and  tutors  of  Jan  Van  Rens- 
selaer, a  later  patroon  of  Bensselaerswyck.  The 
patroon  reserved  to  himself  the  tenth  of  all  grains, 
fruits,  and  other  products  raised  on  the  bouuene. 
The  tenant  was  bound,  in  addition  to  his  rait  d 
five  hundred  guilders  or  two  hundred  dollars,  to 
keep  up  the  roads,  repair  the  buildings,  cut  ten 
pieces  of  oak  or  fir  wood,  and  bring  the  same  to  the 
shore;  he  must  also  every  year  give  to  the  patroon 
three  days'  service  with  his  horses  and  wagon; 


i'W 


"m 


'M 


m 


f<^!' 


ff   4 


I 


m 


m 


('•I 


44  DUTCH  AM)  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
each  y^  he  was  to  cut.  spKt.  and  briim  to  the 
watewide  two  fathoms  of  firewood;  and  he  waa 
further  to  dehver  yearly  to  the  Director  aa  quit- 
rent  two  budieb  of  wheat,  twenty-five  pound,  of 
butter,  and  two  pairs  of  fowls. 

It  was  the  difficult  task  of  the  agent  of  thecolony 
to  harmonize  the  constant  hostiliUes  between  the 
patioon  and  his  "people."    Van  Curler's  letter  to 
JSihaen  Van  Rensselaer  begins:  "Laus  Deb!    At 
the  Manhattans  this  lath  June.  164S.  Most  honor- 
able,  wise,  powerful,  and  right  discreet  Lord,  my 
Lord   Patroon-."     After   which   propitiatory 
begmmng  .t  embarks  at  once  on  a  reply  to  the 
reproaches  which  the  honorable,  wiae.  and  power- 
ful  Lord  has  headed  upon  his  obedient  servant 
Van  Curler  admits  that  the  accounts  and  books 
have  not  been  forwarded  to  Holland  as  they  should 
have  been;  but  he  pleads  the  difficulty  of  securing 
returns  from  the  tenants,  whom  he  finds  slippery 
in  their  accounting.    "Everything  they  have  laid 
out  on  account  of  the  Lord  Patroon  they  wefl  know 
how  to  specify  for  what  was  expended.   But  what 
has  been  laid  out  for  their  private  use.  that  they 
know  nothing  about." 

If  the  patroon's  relations  with  his  tenants  were 
thorny,  he  had  no  less  trouble  in  his  dealings  with 


m 

In   I 


PATBOONS  AND  LORDS  OP  THE  MANOB  45 

the  Director-Genend  «t  New  Aauterdam.    It  ii 
true,  Peter  Minmt,  the  fint  important  Director, 
WM  removed  in  I88S  by  the  Company  for  unduly 
favoring  the  patroon.,  and  Van  Twiller,  another 
Director  and  a  nephew  of  Van  Rennelaer  by 
marriage,  was  not  disposed   to  antagonize  his 
relative;  but  when  Van  Twiller  was  rq>laced  by 
Kieft.  and  he  in  turn  by  Stuyvesant.  the  horizon 
at  Rensselaerswyck  grew  stormy.    In  1648  the 
patroon  ordered  Nicholas  Coom  to  fortify  Beeren 
or  Bears  Island,  and  to  demand  a  toU  of  each  ship, 
eicept  those  of  the  West  India  Company,  that 
passed  up  and  down  the  river.    He  also  required 
that  the  colors  on  every  ship  be  lowered  in  passing 
Rensselaer's  Stein  or  Castle  Rensselaer,  as  the  fort 
on  the  steep  little  island  was  named. 

Govert  Loockermans,  sailing  down  the  river  one 
day  on  the  ship  Good  ff ope,  failed  to  salute  theflag, 
whereupon  a  lively  dialogue  ensued  to  the  follow- 
ing effect,  and  not,  we  may  be  assured,  carried  on 
in  low  or  amicable  tones : 
Coom:  "Lower  your  colotsi" 
Loockermans:  "For  whom  should  I?" 

Coom:  "For  the  stople-right  of  Rensselaers- 
wyck." 

Looekermatu:  "I  lower  my  colon  for  no  one 


m 

m 


'  ( 


*•  DUTCH  AND  BNGU8H  ON  TOE  HUDSON 
^«ie  PHace  d  0«„g.  «rf  the  LoH.  ^ 

Thep»ct.c.I«,dto»thi.inte«hMgeof«neni. 
ti«.w«  .^ot  which  tow  the  m«in«il  of  the  Good 
«^.  perfected  the  princely  fl.g.»  ^i  «,  ^n- 
n«ed  the  rfapper  that  on  hi.  «riv«l  .t  New  Am- 

2«d«n  he  hartened  to  ky  hi.  griev«ce  Wore  the 
Councd,  who  thewupon  orieM  Coon,  to  behave 
with  more  dvih'ty.  "-«•»«: 

d^med  to  f«]u«.  A.  we  .tudy  the  o7S 
m«.t.  we  fbd  a  .ulfen  tenantiy.  an  ob«K,uiou, 
^d  carewom  .gent,  a  di«ati.fied  patZ.  an 
^ja^«.t  company,  a  bewildered  govenunent- 

the  nat,v«  were  friendly,  the  tran.porUtion  e^. 
the  Und  fertile,  the  condition,  favorable  toZt 
cc««rvat.on  of  human  happine*.  which  i.  «.d 
^ou^d  be  the  aan  of  civilization.  The  «««on  for 
the  d^o^tent  which  prevailed  i.  not  far  to  «hA. 
«d  aU  cla«e.  were  respon«ble  for  it.  for  they 
combined  m  planting  an  an«=hxonirtic  feudalist 
"1  a  new  conatry.  wUch  wa.  dedicated  by  it. 
v«y  phy«cal  condition,  to  liberty  and  democracy. 
The  .etUer.  came  from  a  nation  which  had  battW 


I   i 
i 


PA1BO0NS  AND  LQBDS  Of  THE  MANOR  «7 

throu^longyMninthecMiMoffnedMn.  Th«7 
found  thenudiret  in  m  colony  adjoining  thoM  d 
Engluhmen  who  hi  J  bnved  the  perils  <rf  the  wit 
demen  to  eatabllih  the  lame  principles  of  liberty 
•nd  democracy.  No  sue  mind  could  have  es- 
P«!ted  the  Dutch  colonists  toieturn  without  pro- 
test  to  m  medieval  system  of  government. 

When  the  English  took  possession  of  New 
Netherland  in  1864,  the  old  patroonships  were  con- 
finned  as  manorial  grants  from  England.  As  time 
went  on,  many  new  manors  were  erected  until, 
when  the  province  was  finally  added  to  England 
in  1674.  "The  Lords  of  the  Manor"  along  the 
Hudson  had  taken  on  the  proporUons  of  a  landed 
•Mtocracy.  On  the  lower  reaches  of  the  river  lay 
the  Van  Cortlandt  and  Fhilipse  Manors,  the  first 

containing  86.000  acres  and  a  house  so  fiiinly  built 
that  it  is  still  standing  with  its  walls  of  freestone, 
three  feet  thick.  The  Philipse  Manor,  at  Tarry- 
town,  represented  the  remarkable  achievement  of 
a  self-made  man,  bom  in  the  Old  World  and  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  who  rose  in  the  New  World  to 
fortune  and  eminence.  By  dint  of  business  acu- 
men and  by  marrying  two  heiresses  in  succession 
he  achieved  wealth,  and  built  "Castle  Philipse" 
and  the  picturesque  litUe  church  at  Sleepy  Hollow. 


1  •  I 

I? 


M 


¥^  I' 


:« 


«  DUTCH  AND  ENGU8H  ON  THE  HUDSON 
•tifliiiMe.  FMther  up  the  river  lay  the  living, 
■ton  Bfanor.  In  1085  Bobert  Dvingrton  wm 
IHMted  by  Governor  Dongan  a  patent  of  a  tract 
h«If  way  between  New  York  and  Ren»elaenwyck. 
•croM  the  river  from  the  Catddll,  and  covering 
many  thouaand  aciei. 

But  the  ertate  of  wUcfa  we  know  mort.  thanka 
to  the  recordi  left  by  Mw.  Grant  of  Laggan  in  her 
Mmoin  qf  m  Avuriem  Lady,  written  in  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  i«  that  belonging 
to  the  Schuyler,  at  "the  PUU"  near  Albany, 
which  runs  along  the  western  bank  of  the  Hudson' 
for  two  miles  and  is  bordered  with  sweeping  ehn 
trees.    The  mansion  consisted  of  two  stories  and 
an  attic.    Through  the  middle  of  the  house  ran 
a  wide  passage  from  the  front  to  the  back  door. 
At  the  front  door  was  a  Uxgt>  itoep,  open  at  the 
sides  and  with  seats  around  it.    One  room  was 
open  for  company.    The  other  apartments  were 
bedrooms,  a  drawing-room  being  an  unheaid-<rf 
luxuiy.     "The  house  fronted  the  river,  on  the 
bnnk  of  which,  under  shades  of  elm  and  sycamore, 
nm  the  great  road  toward  Saratoga,  StiUwater.' 
and  the  northern  lakes."    Adjoining  the  orchard 
was  a  huge  barn  raised  from  the  ground  by  beams 
which  rested  on  stone  and  held  up  a  massive  oak 


PATOOONS  AND  LORDS  OF  THE  MANC8  « 
floor.  On  <me  iide  MB  a  maiiger.  Cattle  nd 
hraies  ftood  in  rowi  with  their  hoMia  towafd  the 
thrediing-floor.  "There  w«  .  ptodigiou.  huge 
box  or  (^Hai  chett  in  one  ude  built  up,  fw  hoMing 
the  com  after  it  was  th«»hed.  and  the  roof  which 
wan  v«ay  lofty  and  ipBciou*  waa  supported  by  laige 
croM  beams.  From  one  to  the  other  of  these  was 
stretched  a  great  number  of  long  poke  so  as  to 
form  a  sort  of  open  loft,  on  whidi  the  whole  ridi 
crop  was  laid  up." 

Altogether  it  is  an  attractive  picture  of  peace 
and  plenty,  of  hoqiitality  and  simple  luxury,  that 
is  drawn  by  this  visitor  to  the  Schuyler  homestead 
We  see  through  her  eyes  its  caipeted  winter  rooms, 
lU  hall  covered  with  tiled  oHcloth  and  hung  with 
family  portraits,  its  vine^vered  sfoe^w.  provided 
with  ledges  for  the  birds,  and  affording  "pleasant 
views  of  the  winding  river  and  the  distant  hills." 
Such  a  picture  relieves  pleasanUy  the  arid  waste 
of  historical  statistics. 

But  the  reader  who  dwells  too  long  on  the  pic- 
turesque aspects  of  manors  and  patroonships  is 
likely  to  forget  that  New  Netherland  was  peopled 
for  the  most  part  by  colonists  who  were  neither  pa- 
troons  nor  lords  of  manors.  It  was  the  small  pro- 
prietors who  eventually  predominated  on  western 


r 

m 

n 

i|m\.^^^H 

'^4 

mm 

wm 

'1!>\  ■ 

m 

"...1 

80  DUTCH  AOT)  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
Long  Island,  on  Staten  Uand,  and  along  the 
Hudson.  "In  the  end,"  it  has  been  weU  said, 
"this  fonn  of  grant  played  a  more  important  pert 
in  the  development  of  the  province  than  did  the 
larger  fiefs  for  which  such  detailed  provision  was 
made." 


:'k 


CHAPTER  IV 


THK  OmBCTOBtt 

The  fint  Director-General  of  the  colony.  Captain 
CoraeK.  May.  wa.  removed  by  only  a  generaUon 
from  those  "Beggar,  of  the  Sea"  whom  the  Span- 
md  held  in  such  contempt;  but  this  mendicant 
had  begged  to  such  advantage  that  the  sea  granted 
him  a  noble  river  to  explor*  and  a  cape  at  its 
mouth  to  preserve  his  name  to  posterity.    It  is 
upon  his  discoveries  along  the  South  River,  later 
called  the  Delaware,  and  not  upon  his  recoro  as 
Director  of  New  Netharhmd.  that  his  title  to  fame 
mustrest.   Aawdated  with  him  was  Tienpont.  who 
appears  to  have  been  assigned  to  the  North  River 
while  May  assumed  personal  supervision  of  the 
South.    May  acted  as  theagent  of  the  West  India 
Company  for  one  year  only  (1824-1625),  and  was 
followed  in  office  by  Verhulst  (1625-1626).  who  be- 
queathed his  name  to  Verhulsten  Island,  in  the  Del- 
aware  River,  and  then  quietly  passed  out  of  history. 

41 


i.; 


■  t 


% 


r-i 


S»  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
Neither  of  these  officiab  left  any  permanent 
impress  on  the  history  of  the  colony.     It  was 
therefore  a  day  of  vast  importance  to  the  dweUers 
on  the  North  River,  and  especially  to  the  little 
group  of  settlers  on  Manhattan  Island,  when  the 
Meeuwken  dropped  her  anchor  in  the  harbor  in 
May,  1626,  and  her  small  boat  landed  Peter  Minuit, 
Director-General  of  New  Netherland,  a  Governor 
who  had  come  to  govern.    Minuit,  though  regis- 
tered as  "of  Wesel,"  Germany,  was  of  Huguenot 
ancestry,  and  is  reported  to  have  spoken  French, 
Dutch,  German,  and  EngKsh.    He  proved  a  tact- 
ful and  efficient  ruler,  and  the  new  system  of 
government  took  form  under  the  Director  and 
Council,  the  koopman,  who  was  commercial  agent 
and  secretaiy,  and  a  sehout  who  performed  the 
duties  of  sheriff  and  public  prosecutor. 

Van  Wassenaer,  the  son  of  a  doming  in  Amster- 
dam, gives  us  a  report  of  the  colony  as  it  existed 
under  Minuit.  He  writes  of  a  counting-house  built 
of  stone  and  thatched  with  reeds,  of  thirty  ordinary 
houses  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  and  a  horse-mill 
yet  unfinished  over  which  is  to  be  constructed  a 
spacious  room  to  serve  as  a  temporary  church  and 
to  be  decorated  with  bells  captured  at  the  sack  of 
San  Juan  de  Porto  Rico  in  162J  by  the  Dutch  fleet. 


1;-  'i 


THBDmECTQBS  n 

Aocordmg  to  this  chronicler,  evoy  one  in  New 
Netherland  who  fills  no  public  office  is  busy  with 
hii  own  affairs.  One  trades,  one  builds  bouses, 
another  plants  farms.  Each  fanner  pastures  the 
cows  under  his  charge  on  the  fcouwms  of  the  Com- 
pany, which  also  owns  the  cattle;  but  the  milk  is 
the  property  of  the  farmer,  who  sells  it  to  the 
aettlers.  "The  houses  of  settlers."  he  says,  "are 
now  outside  the  fort;  but  when  that  is  finished 
th«gr  win  aU  remove  within,  in  order  to  garrison  it 
and  be  safe  from  sudden  attack." 

Oue  of  Minuifs  first  acts  as  Director  was  the 
purchase  of  Manhattan  Island,  covering  some 
twenty-two  thousand  acres,  for  merchandise 
valued  at  sixty  guilders  or  twenty-four  dollars. 
He  thus  secured  the  land  at  the  rate  of  approxi- 
--mately  ten  acres  for  one  cent.  A  good  bargain. 
Peter  Minuit!  The  transaction  was  doubly  effec- 
j/e  in  placating  the  savages,  or  the  wUden,  as  the 
settlers  caUed  them,  and  in  establishing  the  Dutch 

cWm  as  against  the  English  by  urging  rights  both 
of  discovery  and  of  purchase. 

In  spite  of  the  goodwill  manifested  by  the 
natives,  the  settlers  were  cwistantly  anxious  lest 
some  conspiracy  might  suddenly  break  o^  Van 
Wassenaer.  reporting  the  news  from  the  colony  as 


:i', 


-*•'  - 


B. 


M  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
it  Ksched  him  in  Amsterdam,  wrote  in  1026  that 
Keter  Barentaen  was  to  be  sent  to  command  Fort 
Orange,  and  that  the  families  were  to  be  brought 
down  the  river,  sixteen  men  without  women  being 
Irft  to  garrison  the  fort.  Two  years  later  he  wrwte 
that  there  were  no  families  at  Port  Orange,  all  hav- 
ing been  brought  down  the  river.  Only  twenty-five 
or  twenty-six  traders  remained  and  Ktol,  who  had 
been  vice-director  there  since  1626. 

Minuit  showed  true  statesmanship  by  following 
conciliation  with  a  show  of  strength  against  hostile 
powers  on  every  hand.   He  had  brought  with  him 
a  competent  engineer,  Kryn  Frederycke,  or  Fred- 
ericksen,  who  h^  been  an  officer  in  the  army  of 
Prince  Maurice.    With  his  help  Minuit  laid  out 
Fort  Amsterdam  on  what  was  then  the  tip  of  Man- 
hattan Island,  the  green  park  which  forms  the 
end  of  the  island  today  being  then  under  water. 
Fredericksen  found  material  and  labor  so  scarce 
that  he  could  plan  at  firrt  only  a  blockhouse  sur- 
rounded by  palisades  of  red  cedar  strengthened 
with  earthworks.   The  fort  was  comple*  ?d  in  1626, 
and  at  the  dose  of  the  year  a  settlement  called 
New  Amsterdam  had  grown  up  around  it  and  had 
been  made  the  capital  of  New  Netherland. 
During  the  building  of  the  fort  there  occurred 


THEDIBBCTQBS  gg 

ait  cpiaode  fraught  with  serious  coiuequeiices.  A 
friendly  Indian  of  the  Weckquaesgeeck  tribe  came 
with  his  nephew  to  traffic  at  Port  Anuteidam. 
Three  servants  of  Minuit  fell  upon  the  Indian, 
robbed  him,  and  murdered  him.  The  nephew, 
then  but  a  boy,  escaped  to  his  tribe  and  vowed 
a  vengeance  which  he  wreaked  in  blood  nearly  a 
score  of  years  later. 

Minuit's  preparations  for  war  were  not  confined 
to  land  fortification.    In  IftW  the  hearts  of  the 
colonists  were  gladdened  by  a  great  victory  of 
the  Dutch  over  the  Spanish,  when,  in  a  battle  o«F 
San  Salvador,  Peter  Heyn  demolished  twenty-six 
Spanish  warships.    On  the  5th  of  September  the 
same  bold  sailor  captured  the  whole  of  the  Spanish 
silver-fleet  with  spoils  amounting  to  twelve  million 
guilders.    In  the  following  year  the  gallant  com- 
mander, then  a  lieutenant-admiral,  died  in  battle 
on  the  deck  of  his  ship.   The  States-General  sent 
to  his  old  peasant  mother  a  message  of  condolence, 
to  which  she  replied:  "Ay,  I  thought  that  would 
be  the  end  of  him.    He  was  always  a  vagabond; 
but  I  did  my  best  to  correct  him.  Hegotnomoi^ 
than  he  desCTved." 

It  was  perhaps  the  echo  of  naval  victories  like 
these  which  prompted  Minuit  to  embark  upon  a 


'  71. 


y. 


W  DDTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

^pbuilding  project  of  gmt  magnitude  for  that 
time.  Two  Belgiaa  ihipbuildm  arrived  in  New 
Amsterdam  and  adced  the  help  of  the  Director 
in  constructing  a  large  venel.  Mmuit,  seeing 
the  opportunity  to  advatise  the  reM>uices  of  the 
colony,  agreed  to  give  his  assistance  and  the  result 
was  that  the  New  NeOurUmi.  a  ship  of  eight  hun- 
dred tons  carrying  thirty  guns,  was  built  and 
launched. 

This  enteiprise  oort  more  than  had  bem  ex- 
pected and  the  bills  were  severely  critidaed  by  the 
West  India  Company,  afready  dissatisfied  with 
Minuit  on  the  ground  that  he  had  favored  the 
interests  of  the  p^troons,  who  claimed  the  right  of 
unrestricted  trade  within  thdr  estates,  as  against 
the  interests  of  the  Company.    Urged  by  many 
complaints,  the  States-General  set  on  foot  an  in- 
vestigation of  the  Director,  the  patroons,  and  the 
West  India  Company  itself,  with  the  result  that  in 
1682  Minuit  was  recalled  and  the  power  of  the 
patroons  was  limited..  New  Netherland  had  not 
yet  seen  the  last  of  Peter  Minuit,  however.  Angry 
and  embittered,  he  entered  the  service  of  Sweden 
and  returned  later  to  vex  the  Dutch  colony. 

In  the  interval  between  Minuit's  departure  and 
the  arrival  of  Van  Twiller,  the  reins  of  authority 


Vf. 


/ 


TBB  DntBCItttS  ^ 

WM»  ImM  by  Sebaftian  Krol,  whow  mhm  k 
inwwMble  chiefly  f or  the  tort  tfcet  he  h«i  b«« 
iBftMBtW  in  purchMiog  the  doaun  ct  ^h-m 
l»>M«»ydc  for  iU  patroon  (18S0)  and  the  tndi. 
tion  that  the  cruller,  erolt^  or  holder,  was  w 
called  in  hi.  honw.  The  Con^wiy'.  selectiMi  ol 
a  permanent  mcoeHor  to  Minuit  was  not  happy 
Wouter  Van  Twiller,  nephew  of  Kiliaen  Van  Sena! 
■eber.  mutt  have  owed  his  appointmait  as  Direc 
tor  to  family  influence,  since  neither  his  caner  nor 
his  refutation  justified  the  choice. 

David  de  Vries.  writing  on  April  16, 1683,  notes 
that  on  arriving  about  noon  before  Port  Amster- 
dam he  found  there  a  ship  called  the  Sovtbergh 
which  had  brought  over  the  new  Governor,  Wou- 
ter Van  Twiller,  a  fonner  clerk  in  the  West  India 
House  at  Amsterdam.    De  Vries  gives  his  opinion 
of  Van  Twiller  in  no  uncertain  terms.    He  er- 
pressed  his  own  surprise  that  the  West  India  Com- 
pany should  send  fools  into  this  eountiy  who  knew 
nothing  except  how  to  drink,  and  quotes  an  Eng- 
lishman as  saying  that  he  could  not  understand 
the  unruliness  among  the  officers  of  the  Company 
and  that  a  govonor  shouM  have  no  more  control 
over  than. 

For  the  penonal  appearance  of  this  "Walter 


f 


% 


.-!^fl 


m 

'I 


m 

I '  > 

If' 


ill 


n  DUTCH  AND  ENGUJ8H  ON  1HB  XTODSON 
the  Doubter."  we  miut  turn  agab  to  the  twH- 
mony  of  Knickerbocker,  whow  mocUng  dcKr^H 
tiona  have  obtained  a  quaai-hiitorical  authority: 

Thw  renowne  <  old  gentlemui  arrived  at  New  AnHtcr- 
daminthemeiTy  month  of  June.  .  .  .  Hewaaenct^ 
five  feet  nx  incfaei  in  height  and  six  feet  five  inehea  in 
encumference.  His  he«i  wai  a  perfect  iphere  and  ol 
•uch  itupendoiu  dimenn'c-  i  that  Dame  Nature,  with 
all  her  lez't  ingenuity  would  have  been  punled  to 
conrtnict  a  neck  capable  ,  t  ipporting  it:  Wheiefoie 
Ae  wiaely  declined  the  at  c  i  .,,  „d  ^tled  it  firmly  on 
thetopofhiebackbonejc^'uetweentheshoulden.  .  .  . 
Hii  legs  were  short  but  dturdy  in  proportion  to  the 
wei^t  they  had  to  sustain  so  that  when  erect  he  had 
not  a  Uttie  the  appearance  of  a  beer  barrel  on  skids.  His 
face,  that  infalliWe,index  of  the  mind,  presented  a  vast 
«panse.  unfurrowed  by  any  of  those  lines  which  dis- 
figure the  human  countenance  with  what  is  termed  ex- 
pression. .  .  .  His  habits  were  regular.  He  daily  took 
his  four  sUted  meals,  appropriating  exactly  an  hour  to 
each;  he  smoked  and  doubted  eight  hours,  and  he  slept 
the  remaining  twelve  of  the  four-and-twenty. 

A  later  historian,  taking  up  the  cudgels  in  behalf 
of  the  Director,  resents  I&iickerbocker's  impeach- 
ment and  protests  that  "so  far  from  being  the 
aged,  fat  and  overgrown  person  r^resented  in 
caricature  Van  Twiller  was  youthful  and  inex- 
perienced, and  his  faults  were  those  of  a  young 


^. 


THE  DIBECrORKS  « 

in*n  uiiUMd  to  Mithority  and  luunpend  by  hit 
in*tructionf."' 

In  hi.  new  office  Van  TwiUer  wm  confronted 
with  questions  dealing  with  the  enerowAment  «rf 
the  patroons  from  within  and  of  the  English  from 
without,  the  unwelcome  visit  of  Eelkens,  of  whom 
weshaU  hear  Uter.  and  massacres  by  the  Indian, 
on  the  South  River.    Such  problem,  might  well 
have  puuled  a  wiwr  head  and  a  more  determined 
character  than  Van  Twiller's.    We  cannot  hold 
him  wholly  blameworthy  if  he  dealt  with  them  in 
a  spirit  of  doubt  and  hesiUtion.    What  we  find 
harder  to  excuse  i.  hi.  duewd  advancement  of  hi. 
own  interest,  and  hi.  lavish  eipendituro  of  the 
Company's  money.    The  cost  of  building  the  fort 

'^"^'''''•'••dTOCite.W.B.Gtfflb,  quota,  the  Niikefk«»-.i. 

fcU^Ut«t,*v«wh«h.™„,«,toU„ooI<»y.  Th. 
^  ol  th.  V„  B««l«^Bowi.,  D«„,„«ript  rt.t-^KiH„ 
iS^T"^*"  •«»  i"  I«A  tut  hi.  drto,  M.ri.,  m«« 

tC.-T^S^'"  "**'  the  jre«  laoa  M  U..trued.teof  Vm 
IVUI*.  hrth  beouue  th=  yeu  IMft  prerfooj,  «!c«ptad  b,  hb. 
teto-.  wA-  h.™  b«n  the  MO.  M  th.t  of  the  birth  rf  EUmii 

IT^  2?T™""  f"*"~"' •'™»"^-«' «*»«  th.t . 
J»th  of  tw«.ty*«n  du.ttU  h.ve  l«n  «,  ™dd«ly  p^notrf  ,„, 


IM 


M 


H 


ao  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
wu  more  thmn  juatifi^lc.   To  have  ne^eeted  the 
dcfouee  would  have  been  culpable;  and  the  bar- 
racfca  built  for  the  hundred  and  four  loldien  whom 
he  had  brought  over  from  the  Fatherland  may  aho 
boMtdownacneceHaiy.  But  when  the  Company 
wai  groaning  under  the  expenaea  of  the  cdooy,  it 
wai,  to  say  the  leart.  lacking  in  tact  to  build  for 
hinuelf  the  most  elaborate  house  in  New  Nether- 
land,  besides  erecting  <m  one  ol  the  Company's 
boitwme$  a  house,  a  bam,  a  boathouse,  and  a 
brewery,  to  say  nothing  ol  phtnting  another  farm 
with  tobacco,  woridng  it  with  slave  U^Mr  at  the 
Company's  expense,  and  expropriating  the  profita. 
In  the  year  16S8,  after  he  had  been  five  yean  in 
office,  the  outcr^  against  Van  Twiller  for  mis- 
f easano^  malfeasance,  and  eapecially  nonfeasance, 
grew  too  loud  to  be  ignored,  and  he  was  recalled: 
but  before  he  left  New  Netherland  he  bou^t 
Nooten  or  Nut  Island,  since  called  Governor's 
Island,  and  also  two  other  islands  in  the  East 
River.    At  the  time  of  his  marriage  in  1648,  Van 
Twiller  was  in  command  of  a  competence  attained 
at  the  expense  of  the  West  India  Company,  and 
there  is  much  excuse  for  the  feeling  of  his  employers 
that  he  had  been  more  active  in  his  own  affairs 
than  in  theirs. 


M 


}  ii' 


THE  DQtECTOBS  n 

The  priadiMl  Mrvke  which  he  had  tendered  to 
the  Compuiy  in  hit  term  of  office  waa  the  eatab- 
Mment  of  "at4>le  rifht"  at  New  Amaterdam. 
compelling  aU  ahipa  trading  on  the  ooatt  or  the 
North  Biver  to  pay  toOa  or  unload  their  cargoea 
on  the  Company's  property.  But  on  the  reverM 
tide  of  the  account  we  mutt  lemember  that  he 
allowed  the  fort  to  fall  into  nich  decay  that  when 
Kieft  arrived  in  1088  he  found  the  defenaea.  which 
had  been  finithed  only  three  yean  before,  already 
in  a  shamefully  neglected  condition,  the  gunt  dia- 
mounted,  the  public  buildings  inside  the  walls  in 
ruins,  and  the  walls  of  the  fort  itself  so  beaten 
down  that  any  one  might  enter  at  will,  "save  at 
the  stone  point." 

The  hopes  of  the  colonists  rose  again  with  the 
coming  of  a  new  governor;  but  the  appointment  of 
Kieft  reflected  as  Mttle  credit  as  that  of  Van  Twiller 
upon  the  sagacity  of  the  West  India  Company. 
The  man  now  chosen  to  rule  New  Netheriand  was 
a  narrow-minded  busybody,  eager  to  interfere 
in  small  matters  and  without  the  statesmanship 
required  to  conduct  large  affairs.  Some  of  his 
activities,  it  is  true,  had  practical  value.  He  fixed 
the  hours  at  which  the  coloaists  should  go  to  bed 
and  ordered  the  curfew  to  be  rung  at  nine  o'clock; 


u 


I. J 


U 


v.1% 


u; 

ji 


p\ 


Mioocopr  msouiTKm  test  chait 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


^  APPLIED   IIVHGE      Inc 

^^  1653  Eosl  Main  Street 

Sr.S  Roch«*t«r.  H»m  York        14609       USA 

rJSB  (716)  *B2  -  0300  -  Phon« 

^aS  (716)  20S  -  5999  -  Fax 


iiH 


I 


e«  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
he  asUblished  two  annuaJ  fairs  to  be  held  on  the 
pr««nt  Bowling  Green,  one  in  October  for  cattle 
and  one  m  November  for  hogs;  and  he  built  a  new 
stone  church  within  the  fort,  operated  a  brewery, 
founded  a  hostehy,  and  planted  orchards  a^ 
gardens.  But  on  the  other  side  of  the  account  he 
was  responsible  for  a  bloody  war  with  the  Indiuu, 
which  came  near  to  wrecking  thecolony 

His  previous  record  held  scant  promise  for  his 
su^essasagovemor.   Hehadfailedasame^hant 

"fff!^  '  ?  "^"^  "^''^  ^  P"'*'"*  ^<^  been 
affixedtoagallows.  Such  a  man  was  a  poor  person 
to  be  put  m  control  of  the  compMcated  finances  of 
New  Netherland  and  of  the  delicate  relations  be- 
tween lie  colonists  and  the  Indians  -  relations 
-J^^o^  mfinite  tact,  wisdom,  firmness,  and 

The  natives  in  the  region  of  New  Amsterdam 
were  mcreasingly  irritated  by  the  encroachments 
of  the  whites.  They  complained  that  stray  cows 
spoiled  their  unfenced  cornfields  and  that  various 
other  depredations  endangered  their  crops.  To 
add  to  this  irritation  Eeft  proposed  to  tax  the 
nabves  for  the  protection  afforded  them  by  the 
i-ort.  which  was  now  being  repaired  at  large  ex- 
pense.   The  situation,  already  bad  enough,  was 


HI 


THE  DIRECTORS  es 

further  complicated  by  Kieft's  clumsy  handling 
of  an  altercation  on  Staten  Island.  Some  pigs 
were  stolen,  by  servants  of  the  Company  as  ap- 
peared later;  but  the  offense  was  charged  to  the 
Rari'  i  Indians.  Without  waiting  to  make  in- 
vestigi'  tions  Kief t  sent  out  a  punitive  expedition  of 
seventy  men,  who  attacked  the  innocent  natives, 
killed  a  number  of  them,  and  laid  waste  their  crops. 
This  stupid  and  wicked  attack  still  further  exas- 
perated the  Indians,  who  in  the  high  tide  of  mid- 
summer saw  their  lands  laid  bare  and  their  homes 
desolated  by  the  wanton  hand  of  the  intruders. 

Some  months  later  the  trouble  between  the 
whites  and  the  red  men  was  brought  to  a  head  by 
an  unforeseen  tragedy.  A  savage  came  to  Claes 
Smits,  radenmaker  or  wheelwright,  to  trade  beaver 
for  duffel  cloth.  As  Claes  stooped  down  to  take 
out  the  duffel  from  a  chest,  the  Indian  seized  an 
axe  which  chanced  to  stand  near  by  and  struck  the 
wheelwright  on  the  neck,  killing  him  instantly. 
The  murderer  then  stole  the  goods  from  the  chest 
and  fled  to  the  forest. 

When  Kieft  sent  to  the  tribe  of  the  Weckquaes- 
geecks  to  inquire  the  cause  of  this  murder  and  to 
demand  the  slayer,  the  Indian  told  the  chief  that 
he  had  seen  his  uncle  robbed  and  killed  at  the  fort 


li  >■ 


I 


in 


M  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
whfle  it  was  being  built;  that  he  himself  had 
«caped  and  had  vowed  revenge;  and  that  the  un- 
ludty  Claes  wa.  the  first  white  man  upon  whom  he 
had  a  chance  to  wreak  vengeance.  The  chief  then 
rephed  to  the  Director  that  he  was  sorry  that 
twenty  Christians  had  not  been  killed  and  that  the 
fc^an  had  done  only  a  pious  duty  in  avenging  his 

In  tUe  emergency  Kieft  called  a  meeting  at 
which  the  prominent  burghers  chose  a  committee 
of  twelve  to  advise  the  Director.    This  took  place 
in  1641      The  Council  was  headed  by  Captain 
David  de  Vries.  whose  portrait  with  its  pointed 
chin,  high  foreheAd.  and  keen  eyes,  justifies  his 
^utotion  as  the  ablest  man  in  New  Netherhmd. 
He  maisted  that  it  was  inadvisable  to  attack 
the  Indians -not  to  say  hazardous.    Besides,  the 
tympany  had  warned  them  to  keep  peace     It  is 
interesting  to  speculate  on  what  would  have  been 
the  effect  on  the  colony  if  the  Company's  choice 
had  faUen  upon  De  Vries  imrtead  of  on  Kief t  as 
Director. 

Although  rertrained  for  the  time.  Keft  never 
rehnquished  his  purpose.  On  February  24.  1648 
he  again  announced  his  intention  of  making  a  raid 
upon  the  Indians,  and  in  spite  of  further  remon- 


THE  DIRECTORS  eg 

strance  from  De  Vries  he  sent  out  his  soldiers,  who 
returned  after  a  massacre  which  disgraced  the 
Director,  enraged  the  natives,  and  endangered  th. 
colony.  Kirft  was  at  first  proud  of  his  treachery: 
but  as  soon  as  it  was  known  every  Algonquin  tribe' 
around  New  Amsterdam  started  on  the  warpath. 
From  New  Jersey  to  thp  Connecticut  eveiy  farm 
was  in  peril.  The  famous  and  much-persecuted 
Anne  Hutchinson  polished  with  her  family;  towns 
were  burned;  and  men.  women,  and  children  fled 
in  panic. 

On  the  approach  of  spring,  when  the  Indians  had 
to  plant  their  com  or  face  famine,  sachems  of  the 
Long  Island  Indians  sought  a  parley  with  the 
Dutch.    De  Vries  and  Olfertsen  volunteered  to 
meet  the  savages.    In  the  woods  near  Rockaway 
they  found  nearly  three  hundred  Indians  as- 
sembled.    The  chiefs  placed  the  envoys  in  the 
center  of  the  circle,  and  one  among  them,  who  had 
a  bundle  of  sticks,  laid  down  one  stick  at  a  time  as 
he  recounted  the  wroags  of  his  tribe.    This  orator 
told  how  the  red  men  had  given  food  to  the  settlers 
and  were  rewarded  by  the  murder  of  their  people, 
how  they  had  protected  and  cherished  the  traders,' 
and  how  they  had  been  abused  in  return.     At 
length  De  Vries.  like  the  practical  man  that  he  was. 


a^^ 


f  :fl 


ij»i 


f  '11 


d? 


mr 

i.'hi 


.11 


v. 


i' 


% 


86  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
suggested  that  they  all  adjourn  to  the  Fort,  promu- 
ing  them  presents  from  the  Director. 

The  chiefs  consented  to  meflt  the  Director  and 
eventuaUy  were  persuaded  to  make  a  treaty  of 
peace;  but  Kieffs  gifts  were  so  niggardly  that  the 
savages  went  away  with  rancor  still  in  their  hearts, 
and  the  war  of  the  races  continued  its  bloody 
course.  It  is  no  wonder  that  when  De  Vries  Irft 
the  Governor  on  this  occasion,  he  told  Kieft  in 
plain  terms  of  his  guilt  and  predicted  that  the 
shedding  of  so  much  innocent  blood  would  yet 
be  avenged  upon  his  own  head.  This  prophecy 
proved  a  strangely  true  one.  When  recalled  by  the 
States-General  in  11647,  Eeft  set  out  for  Holland 
en  the  ship  Princeas,  carrying  with  him  the  sum 
«»f  four  hundred  thousand  guilders.  The  ship  was 
wrecked  in  the  Bristol  channel  and  Eeft  was 
drowned. 

The  evil  that  Eeft  did  lived  after  him  and  the 
good,  if  interred  with  his  bones,  would  not  have 
occupied  much  space  in  the  tomb.  The  only  posi- 
tive advance  during  his  rule  — and  that  was 
carried  through  against  his  will  —  was  the  appoint- 
ment  of  an  advisory  committee  of  the  twelve  men, 
representing  the  householders  of  the  colony,  who 
were  called  together  in  the  emergency  following 


THE  DIKECTOBS  07 

the  murder  of  Claes  Smits.  and  in  IMS  of  a  sinu- 
lar  board  of  eight  men,  who  protested  against, 
his  arbitraiy  measures  and  later  procured  hii 
recall.' 

After  the  departure  of  Kielt  the  most  picture 
esque  figure  of  the  period  of  Dutch  rule  in  America 
appeared  at  New  Amsterdam,  Petrus  or  Pieter 
Stuyvesant.    We  have  an  authentic  portrait  in 
which  the  whole  personality  of  the  man  is  writ 
large.    The  dominant  nose,  the  small,  obstinate 
eyes,  the  close-set,  autocratic  mouth,  tell  the  char- 
acter of  the  man  who  was  come  to  be  the  new  and 
the  last  Director-General  of  New  Netherland.   As 
Director  of  the  West  India  Company's  colony  at 
Curasao,  Stuyvesant  had  undertaken  the  task  of 
reducing  the  Portuguese  island  of  St.  Martin  and 
had  lost  a  leg  in  the  fight.    This  loss  he  repaired 
w:th  a  wooden  leg,  of  which  he  professed  himself 
prouder  than  of  all  his  other  limbs  together  and 
which  he  had  decorated  with  silver  bands  and 
nails,  thus  earning  for  him  the  sobriquet  of  "Old 
Silver  Nails."    Still,  so  the  legend  runs.  Peter 
Stuyvesant's  ghost  at  night  "stumps  to  and  fro 
with  a  shadowy  wooden  leg  through  the  aisles  of 
St.  Mark's  Church  near  the  spot  where  his  bones 
lie  buried."    But  many  events  were  to  happen 


ii^' 


f  i 


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A- 


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q 


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m 

It 


tw 


68  DDTCH  AND  BNGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
before  those  bones  were  laid  in  the  family  vault  of 
the  ch^)el  on  his  bouieerie. 

When  Stuyvesant  reached  the  country  over 
which  he  was  to  rule,  it  was  noted  by  the  colonists 
that  his  bearing  was  that  of  a  prince.  "I  shall  be 
as  a  father  over  his  children, "  he  told  the  burghers 
of  New  Amsterdam,  and  in  this  patriarchal  capa- 
city he  kept  the  people  standing  with  their  heads 
uncovered  for  more  than  an  hour,  while  he  wore  his 
hat.  How  he  bore  out  this  first  impression  we  may 
gather  from  The  Representation  cf  New  NeOierUmd, 
an  arraignment  of  the  Director,  drawn  up  and 
solemnly  attested^  in  16«0  by  eleven  responsible 
burghers  headed  by  Adrian  Van  der  Donck,  and 
supplemented  by  much  detailed  evidence.  The 
witnesses  express  the  earnest  wish  that  Stuyves- 
ant's  administration  were  at  an  end,  for  they  have 
suffered  from  it  and  know  themselves  powerless. 
Whoever  opposes  the  Director  "hath  as  much  as 
the  sun  and  moon  against  him."  In  the  council  he 
writes  an  opinion  covering  several  pages  and  then 
adds  orally:  "This  is  my  opinion.  If  anyone  have 
aught  to  object  to  it,  let  him  express  it!"  If  any 
one  ventures  to  make  any  objection,  his  Honor 
flies  into  a  passion  and  rails  in  language  better 
fitted  to  the  fish-market  than  to  the  council-hall. 


'(1 

m 

m 


^■; 


"  ON  THE  ULO.SO.N 
.1  the  fjimily  vault  i.' 

M-lied   thf  fxjuritry    om-i 

,va.     ,,twl  !)'•  the  wilonis^s 

I  .,hall  1,. 


n  \iriro  l.i 


»H  UliTCII  AVo  v\ci 

before  those  ; 
the  ehapp!  oi 

When    '^1 
whirh  I'.. 
that  hi  . 
as  a  fa;'; 

of  NrA-   Alll.i' 

fity  he  kept  H:, 

au  arraignment   ...f  ttio  Dir.xtor,  drawn  up  ami 
solemnly  attested  iu  10.50  ly  eleven  resp,,„.,il  i, 
burghers  h,.a<i..a  Ay  Mnan  Van  der  Donck,  aiui 
.-uppleuK    l-ri  t,x    much  detailed  evidence      Tht 
Jie  earnest  wish  tli»t  Sluy. 
:  were  hi  an  eruf  for  they  fja. 
'. e.s  iidw-er!.- 
'hatb  S.S  much  ii.v 
In  tlic  councilht 
and  then 


»itn. 

a«t 

suif 

the  sun  and  mi,, 
writes  an  opinion  < 


adds  orally:  "'th: 
aught  to  objeoi 
one  ventures  . 
fiies  into  ,t  ;,> ' 
fitted  to  ; 


inyone  hr.- 
it!"    Unr. 


-  eouncil-Iu!'! 


li;.  «*•■ 


/. 


ft 


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fa 
Ui 


THE  DIRECTOBS  69 

Tl^two  bui»h«M.  Kuyter  and  Mdyn,  who 
"M  been  leaden  of  the  op;  ontion  to  KWt,  peti- 
tioned Stuyvewnt  to  investigate  hii  conduct. 
Stuyvewnt   .upported   hia   predeceMor  on   the 
ground  that  one  Director  should  uphold  another. 
At  Kieft's  inatifcation  he  even  prosecuted  and  con- 
victed Kuyter  and  Melyn  for  seditious  attack  on 
the  govermnent.     When  Melyn  asked  for  grace 
tiU  his  case  could  be  presented  in  the  FatherUnd. 
he  was  threatened,  according  to  his  own  testimony, 
m  language  like  this:  "If  I  knew.  Melyn.  that  you 
would  divulge  our  sentence  [that  of  fine  and  banish- 
ment] or  bring  it  before  Their  High  M.-htinesses. 
I  would  cause  you  to  be  hanged  at  once  on  the 
highest  tree  in  New  Netherland."   In  another  case 
the  Director  said:  "It  may  during  my  administra- 
tion be  contemplated  to  appeal;  but  if  anyone 
should  do  it.  I  will  make  him  a  foot  shorter,  and 
send  the  pieces  to  Holland  and  let  him  appeal  in 
that  way." 

An  answer  to  this  arraignment  by  the  burghen 
of  New  Netherland  was  written  by  Van  Tien- 
hoven.  who  was  sent  over  to  the  Netherlands  to 
defend  Stuyvesant;  but  its  value  is  impaired  by  the 
fact  that  he  was  achmd.  fiieaal  and  interested  in 
the  acquittal  of  Stuyvesant.  whose  tool  he  was 


A 


[ 


n<ii 


I 


70  DUTCH  AND  RNGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

and  also  by  the  fact  that  he  was  the  subject  of 
bitter  attack  in  the  JUpreaentation  by  Adrian  Van 
der  Donck,  who  accused  Van  Tienhoven  of  con- 
tinually shifting  from  one  side  to  another  and 
asserted  that  he  was  notoriously  profligate  and 
untrustwortVy.  One  passage  in  his  reply  amounted 
to  a  confesei.„ii.  Who,  he  asks,  are  they  who  have 
complained  about  the  haughtiness  of  the  Director, 
and  he  answers  that  they  are  "such  as  seek  to 
live  without  law  or  rule."  "No  one,"  he  goes 
on  to  say,  "can  prove  that  Director  Stuyvesant 
has  used  foul  language  to  or  railed  at  as  clowns 
any  respectable  persons  who  have  treated  him 
<'?cently.  It  may  W  that  some  profligate  person 
has  given  the  Director,  if  he  has  used  any  bad  word» 
to  him,  cause  to  do  so." 

It  has  been  the  fashion  in  popular  histories 
to  allude  to  Stuyvesant  as  a  doughty  knight  of 
somewhat  choleric  temper,  "a  valiant,  weather 
beaten,  leathern-sided,  lion-hearted,  generous- 
spirited,  old  governor";  but  I  do  not  so  read  his 
history.  I  find  him  a  brutal  tyrant,  as  we  have 
seen  in  the  affair  of  Kieft  vernu  Melyn;  a  narrow- 
minded  bigot,  as  we  shall  see  later  in  his  dealing 
with  the  Quakers  at  Flushing;  a  bully  when  his 
victims  were  completely  in  his  power;  and  a  loser 


U  .1  i 

li  ^4f 


THE  DIRECTORS  71 

in  any  quarrel  when  he  was  met  with  blustering 
comparable  to  his  own. 

In  support  of  the  last  indictment  let  us  take  his 
conduct  in  a  conflict  with  the  authorities  at  Rens- 
««laerswyck.     In  1646  Stuyvesant  had  ordered 
that  no  building  should  be  erected  within  cannon- 
shot  of  Fort  Orange.    The  superintendent  of  the 
settlement  denied  Stuyvesant's  right  to  give  such 
an  order  and  pointed  to  the  fact  that  his  trading- 
house  had  been  for  a  long  time  on  the  border  of  the 
fort.   To  the  claim  that  a  clear  space  was  necessary 
to  the  fort's  eflSciency.  Van  Slichtenhorst,  Van 
Rensselaer's  agent,  replied  that  he  had  spent  more 
than  six  months  in  the  colony  and  had  never  seen 
a  single  person  carrying  a  sword,  musket,  or  pike, 
nor  had  he  heard  a  drum-beat  except  on  the  occa- 
sion of  a  visit  from  the  Director  and  his  soldiers 
m  the  summer.    Stuyvesant  rejoined  by  sending 
soldiers  and  sailors  to  tear  down  the  house  which 
Van  Slichtenhorst  was  building  near  Fort  Orange, 
and  the  commissary  was  ordered  to  arrest  the 
builder  if  he  resisted;  but  the  commissaiy  wrote 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  cany  out  the  or- 
der, as  the  settlers  at  Rensselaerswyck,  regnforced 
by  the  Indians,  outnumbered  his  troops.    Stuy- 
vesant then  recalled  his  soldiers  and  ordered  Van 


!i:' 


;!' 


1^ 


ff 


ir 


\ 

1 

li 

1 
'  i 

i 

7S  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

Slichtenhont  to  appear  before  him,  which  the 
agent  refused  to  do. 

In  1652  Stuyvesant  ordered  Dyckman,  then  in 
command  at  Fort  Orange,  not  to  allow  any  one  to 
build  a  house  near  the  fort  or  to  remain  in  any 
house  already  built.  In  spite  of  prodamadons 
and  other  bluster  this  order  proved  fruitless  and 
on  April  1,  16SS,  Stuyvesant  came  in  person  to 
Fort  Orange  and  sent  a  sergeant  to  lower  the 
patroon's  flag.  The  agent  refusing  to  strike  the 
patroon's  colors,  the  soldiers  entered,  lowered 
the  flag,  and  discharged  thdr  guns.  Stuyvesant 
declared  that  the  region  staked  out  by  posts  should 
be  known  as  Beverwyck  and  instituted  a  court 
there.  Van  Slichtenhorst  tore  down  the  procla- 
mation, whereupon  Stuyvesant  ordered  him  to  be 
imprisoned  in  the  fort.  Later  the  Director  trans- 
ported the  agent  imder  guard  to  New  Amsterdam. 

Stuyvesant's  arbitrary  character  also  appears  in 
his  overriding  of  the  measure  of  local  self-govern- 
ment decreed  by  the  States-General  in  165S.  Van 
der  Donck  and  his  fellows  had  asked  three  things 
of  their  High  Mightinesses,  the  States-General: 
first,  that  they  take  over  the  government  of  New 
Netherland;  second,  that  they  establish  a  better 
city  government  in  New  Amstodam;  and  third. 


tiih 

I"  ''  ! 


THE  DIRECTORS  75 

that  they  dearly  define  the  boundaries  of  New 
NetherUnd.    The  first  of  these  requests,  owing  to 
the  deeply  intrenched  interest  of  the  West  India 
Company,  could  not  be  granted,  the  last  still  less. 
But   the   States-General   urged   that   municipal 
righte  should  be  given  to  New  Amsterdam,  and  in 
1652  the  Company  yielded.    The  charter  limfted 
the  number  of  mhepens  or  aldermen  to  five  and  the 
number  of  burgomasters  to  two,  and  also  ordained 
that  they  as  well  as  the  tchout  should  be  elected  by 
the  citizens;  but  Stuyvesant  ignored  this  provision 
and  proceeded  to  appoint  men  of  his  own  choosing. 
The  Stone  Tavern  built  by  Kieft  at  the  head  of 
Coenties  Slip  was  set  apart  as  a  Stadt-Huya,  or  City 
Hall,  and  here  Stuyvesant's  appointees,  supposed 
to  represent  the  popular  will,  held  their  meetings. 
It  was  something  that  they  did  hold  meetings  and 
nominally  at  least  in  the  interest  of  the  people. 
Another  concession  followed.    In  1658  Stuyvesant 
yielded  so  far  to  the  principles  of  popular  govern- 
ment as  to  concede  to  the  schepens  and  burgo- 
masters of  New  Amsterdam  the  right  to  nominate 
double  the  number  of  candidates  for  office,  from 
whom  the  Director  was  to  make  a  choice. 

In  1656,  during  the  absence  of  Stuyvesant  on 
the  South  River,  the  Indians  around  Manhattan 


I.'  I  • 


ii. 


N't! 

1? 


II  ' 


74  DOTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
appeared  with  a  fleet  of  sixty-four  war  canoes, 
attacked  and  looted  New  Amsterdam,  then  crossed 
to  Hoboken  and  continued  their  bloody  work  in 
Pavonia  and  on  Staten  Island.  In  three  days  a 
hundred  men,  women,  and  children  were  slain, 
and  a  hundred  and  fifty-two  were  taken  captive, 
and  the  damage  to  property  was  estimated  at  two 
hundred  thousand  guilders — approximately  eighty 
thousand  dollars.  As  usual  the  Dutch  had  been  the 
aggressors,  for  Van  Dyck,  formerly  tekout  fucaal, 
had  shot  and  killed  an  old  Indian  woman  who  was 
picking  peaches  in  his  orchard. 

It  must  be  set  down  to  Stuyvesant's  credit  that 
on  his  return  he  acted  toward  the  Indians  in  a 
manner  that  was  kind  and  conciliating,  and  at  the 
same  time  provided  against  a  repetition  of  the 
recent  disaster  by  erecting  blockhouses  at  various 
points  and  by  concentrating  the  settlers  for  mutual 
defense.  By  this  policy  of  mingled  diplomacy  and 
preparation  against  attack  Stuyvesant  preserved 
peace  for  a  period  of  three  years.  But  trouble  with 
the  Indians  continued  to  disturb  the  colonies  on 
the  river .  id  centered  at  Esopus,  where  slaughters 
of  both  white  and  red  men  occtirred.  Eight  white 
men  were  burned  at  the  stake  in  revenge  for  shots 
fired  by  Dutch  soldiers,  and  an  Indian  chief  was 


.11 


THE  DIRECTOBS  7fl 

killed  with  his  own  tomahawk.  In  1660  a  treaty 
0*  peace  was  framed;  but  three  years  later  we 
find  the  two  races  again  embroiled.  Thus  In- 
dian wars  continued  down  to  the  close  of  Dutdi 
rule. 

In  spite  of  uiese  troubles  in  the  more  outlying 
districts,  New  Amsterdam  continued  to  grow  and 
thrive.   In  Stuyvesanfs  time  the  thoroughfares  of 
New  Amsterdam  were  laid  out  as  streets  and  were 
named.    The  line  of  houses  facing  the  fort  on  the 
eastern  side  was  caUed  the  Marckvddt,  or  Market- 
field,  taking  its  name  from  the  green  opposite, 
which  had  been  the  site  of  the  city  market.    De 
Heere  Straat,  the  principal  street,  ran  north  from 
the  fort  through  the  gate  at  the  city  wall.    De 
Hoogh  Straat  ran  parallel  with  the  East  River 
from  the  city  bridge  to  the  water  gate  and  on  its 
line  stood  the  Stoft-ffKj,,.    'T  Water  ran  in  a  semi- 
circular  line  from  the  point  of  the  island  and  was 
bordered  by  the  East  River.    De  Brouwer  Straat 
took  its  name  from  the  breweries  situated  on  it 
and  was  probably  the  first  street  in  the  town  to 
be  regulated  and  paved.    De  Brugh  Straat.  as  the 
name  impKes.  led  to  the  bridge  crossing.  De  Heere 
Graft,  the  principal  canal,  was  a  creek  running  deep 
into  the  island  from  the  East  River  and  protected 


M 


■Wm 


m 


1 


76  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
by  a  siding  of  boards.  An  official  was  appointed 
for  the  care  of  this  canal  with  orders  to  see  "that 
the  newly  made  graft  was  kept  in  order,  that  no 
filth  was  cast  into  it.  and  that  the  boats,  canoes, 
and  other  vessels  were  laid  in  order." 

The  new  city  was  by  this  time  thoroughly 
cosmopolitan.     One  traveler  speaks  of  the  use 
of  eighteen  different  languages,  and  the  forms  of 
faith  were  as  varied  as  the  tongues  spoken.   Seven 
or  eight  large  ships  came  every  year  from  Amster- 
dam.   The  Director  occupied  a  fine  house  on  the 
point  of  the  island.    On  the  east  side  of  the  town 
stood  the  Stadt-Huya  protected  by  a  half-moon  of 
stone  mounted  with  three  small  brass  caunon.   In 
the  fort  stood  the  Governor's  house,  the  chuix.'-. 
the  barracks,  the  house  for  munitions,  and  the 
long-armed  windmills.   Everything  was  prospering 
excq>t  the  foundation  on  which  all  depended. 
There  was  no  adequate  defense  for  all  this  prop- 
erty.   Eere  we  must  acquit  Stuyvesant  from  re- 
sponsihility,  since  again  and  again  he  had  warned 
the  Company  against  the  weakness  of  the  color^y; 
but  they  would  not  heed  the  warnings,  and  the 
consequences   which   might  have  been  averted 
suddenly  overtook  the  Dutch  possessions. 
The  war  which  broke  out  in  1658  between 


THE  DIBBCT0IB8  77 

England MdtheNetherlaads, once  leagued agwnrt 
Catholic  Spun  but  now  ported  by  commercial 
livabiet,  found  an  immediate  echo  on  the  shores 
<rftheHud«>n.  With  feverish  harte  the  inhabit, 
anta  of  New  Amaterdam  began  to  fortify.    Across 

the  ishmd  at  the  northern  limit  of  •  he  town,  on  the 
line  of  what  is  now  WaU  Street,  they  built  a  waU 

with  stout  palisades  backed  by  earthworks.  Thqr 
hastily  repaired  the  fort,  organized  the  citizens  as 
fsr  as  possible  to  resist  attack,  and  also  strength- 
ened  Fort  Orange.  The  New  England  Colonies 
likewise  began  warlike  preparations;  but,  perhaps 
owing  to  the  prudence  of  Stuyvesant  in  accepting 
the  Treaty  of  Hartford,  peace  between  the  Dutch 
and  English  in  the  New  World  continued  for  the 
present,  though,  on  precarious  terms;  and,  the  im- 
mediate threat  of  danger  being  removed  by  the 
treaty  between  England  and  Holland  in  1654.  the 
New  Netherlanders  relaxed  their  vigilance  and 
curtailed  the  expense  of  fortifications. 

Meanwhile  Stuyvesant  had  aKenated  popuh» 
sympathy  and  lessened  united  support  by  his 
treatment  of  a  convention  of  delegates  from  New 
Amsterdam.  Flushing.  Breuckelen,  Hempstead, 
Amersfort,  Middleburgh,  Flatbush,  and  Graves- 
end  who  had  gathered  to  consider  the  defense  and 


n 

!  i 

W   I. 


lii 

I*    t'^n 


n  DUTCH  AND  BNGU8H  ON  THE  HUDSON 
wdf»woftliecok>iiiefc    The  Ec  5^  of  the  Long 
JM«>d  town,  were  the  prime  moveta  in  thii  dg. 
»Mc«it  gmthering.     Here  i.  «,  unia»ukrf,le 
JSnglMi  flavor  in  the  contention  of  The  HumbURe- 
inmHranee  adopted  by  the  Convention,  that  "'tis 
contrary  to  the  first  intentions  and  genuine  prind- 
ples  of  every  well  regulated  government,  that  one 
or  more  men  should  arrogate  to  themselves  the 
exclusive  power  to  dispose,  at  will,  of  the  life  and 
property  of  any  individual."    As  a  people  "not 
conquered  or  subjugated,  but  settled  heie  on  a  mu- 
tual covenant  and  contract  entered  into  with  the 
Lord  Patroons,  with  the  consent  of  the  Natives," 
they  protested  against  the  enactment  of  laws  aiid 
the  i^pointment  of  magistrates  without  their  con- 
aent  or  that  of  their  representatives. 

Stuyvesant  replied  with  his  usual  bigotiy  and 
ma  rage  at  being  contradicted.   He  assert- d  that 

there  was  KtUe  wisdom  to  beexpected  from  popular 
election  when  naturally  "each  would  vote  for  one 
of  his  own  stamp,  the  thief  for  a  thief,  the  rogue, 
the  tippler  and  the  smuggler  for  his  brother  in 
•mquity.  so  that  he  may  enjoy  more  latitude  in 
vice  and  fraud."  Finally  Stuyvesant  ordered  the 
delegates  to  disperse,  declaring:  "We  derive  our 
authority  from  God  -M  the  Company,  not  from  a 


TBE  DIRBCT0S8  n 

few  ignorant  subjecU,  and  we  alone  can  caU  tke 
inhabitants  together." 

With  popular  support  thus  alienated  and  with 
appeab  for  financial  and  military  aid  from  the 
States-General  and  the  West  India  Company  de- 
nied or  ignored,  the  end  of  New  Netherlaud  was 
dearly  in  sight  In  166S  Stuyvesant  wrote  to  the 
Company  begging  them  to  send  him  reBnfoiw- 
menU.  "Otherwise."  he  said,  "it  is  wholly  out 
of  our  power  to  keep  the  sinking  ship  afloat  any 
longer." 

This  year  was  full  of  omens.    The  vaUey  of  the 
Hudson  was  shaken  by  an  earthquake  foUowed  by 
an  overflow  of  the  river,  which  ruined  the  crops. 
Smallpox  visited  the  colony,  and  on  top  of  all  these 
calamities  came  the  appalling  Indian  massacre  at 
Esopus.    The  foUowing  year,  1664,  brought  the 
arrival  of  the  English  fleet,  the  declaration  of  war, 
and  the  surrender  of  the  Dutch  Province.    For 
many  years  the  English  had  protested  against  the 
Dutch  claims  to  the  territory  on  the  North  and 
Southrivers.   Their  navigators  had  tried  to  contest 
the  trade  in  furs,  and  their  Government  at  home 
had  interfered  with  vesseb  sailing  to  and  from  New 
Amsterdam.   Now  at  length  Charles  H  was  ready 
to  appropriate  the  Dutch  possessions.   He  did  not 


'P. 


«  DOTCH  AND  BNOUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
troubkhinuelf  with  quMtiooi  ofinteriMtioiwIUw, 
•till  1m'  with  intenuktional  ethici;  but,  anned  with 
the  flinuy  pretenie  that  Cabot's  viait  *»rff|Kliihwl 
England's  chum  to  the  territory,  he  atealth>1y  "Hft 
preparaUona  to  seize  the  defenseless  colony  on  the 
river  which  had  begun  to  be  known  as  the  Hudson. 
K'  >:  hundred  veteran  troops  were  embarked  on 
four  ships,  under  command  of  Colonel  Richard 
NicoUs,  and  sailed  on  their  expedition  of  conquert. 
Stuyvesant's  suspicions,  aroused  by  rumors  of  in- 
vasion, were  so  far  lulled  by  dispatches  from  Hoi- 
land  that  he  allowed  several  ships  at  New  Amster- 
dam to  sail  for  Curacao  ladened  with  provisions, 
while  he  himself  journeyed  to  Rensselaerswyck 
to  queU   an   Indian   outbreak.      While   he   was 
occupied  in  this  task,  a  messenger  arrived  to  in- 
form him  that  the  English  fleet  was  hourly  ex- 
pected in  the  harbor  of  New  Amsterdam.    Stuy- 
vesant  made  haste  down  the  river;  but  on  the  day 
after  he  arrived  at  Manhattan  Island,  he  saw  ships 
flying  the  flag  of  Engknd  in  the  lower  harbor, 
where  they  anchored  below  the  Narrows.    Colonel 
Nicolls  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  "towna 
situate  on  the  island  commonly  known  by  the 
name  of  Manhattoes,  with  all  the  forte  thereunto 
belonging." 


THE  DIRBCTOItS  gj 

AJlhough  the  cue  of  New  An«te«l«n  wm  now 

«>PeteM.  Stuyvewnt  yet  rtrove  for  delay.    He 

jent .  deputaUon  to  NicolU  to  cwiy  on  a  puhf. 

V«n?  the  deputation  «ked.  Nicoll.  «pKed 
with  gnn.  humor  that  he  wouM  .peak  with  them 
•t  Manhattan.  "FWenda  are  welcome  there." 
«i«rered  Stuyvewnf.  rep««ntative  diplomati- 
cally; but  Nicolb  told  them  bluntly  that  he  wa. 
coming  with  idiip.  and  »Idiew.  "Hoirt  a  white 
flag  at  the  fort."  he  «u'd.  "and  I  may  conrider 
your  proposals." 

Colonel  Nicoll.  was  as  good  as  his  wok!  and.  to 
the  consternation  of  ti,e  dweller,  in  New  Amsteiw 
dam.  the  fleet  of  English  frigates,  under  full  saU 
and  with  all  guns  loaded,  appeared  before  the  walls 
of  the  useless  old  Port  Amste«lam.    Stuyvesant 
rtood  on  one  of  the  angles  of  the  fort  and  thegun- 
new  with  lighted  matches  awaited  his  command 
to  fire.    The  people  entreated  him  to  yield.    "Re- 
Mrtance  is  not  soldiership,  "said  one  of  them    "It 
«  sheer  madness."    Stuyvesant.  who  with  aU  his 
faults  was  a  brave  soldier,  felt  to  the  quick  the 
humiliation;  but  he  saw  also  tiiat  resistance  meant 
(miy  useless  bloodshed.   At  last  he  submitted,  and 
the  English  vessels  sailed  on  their  way  unmolested. 


r  1 


'1^,1 


»«^' 


I 


81  DUTCH  AND  ^    GUSH  ON  THE  HtjOSON 

wbile  Stu^'vcMUit  groued.  "I  would  much  nther 
be  ctnfad  to  my  grave." 

Witliout  firing  «  ihot  the  E  gliah  thua  todc 
POMewkui  of  tlw  rich  couatiy  which  the  Statw- 
General  had  not  thought  worth  defending,  and 
New  Netherland  became  New  Yorik. 


CBAPTBR  V 

BOMIMU  AltD  aCBOOI-TBAOBaM 

BiCAUu  the  Netherknden  were  not.  like  the 
New  Englander..  fugitive!  from  penecuUon  at 
the  handi  of  their  fellow-countrymen,  the  Dutch 
coloniMUon  in  America  ia  often  spoken  of  u 
a  purely  commercial  venture;  but  in  reality  the 
founding  of  New  Netherhwd  marked  a  momen- 
tou.  q>och  in  the  ftruggle  for  the  freedom  of  con- 
•oence.    Ertabliahed  between  the  long  contert 
with  the  InquisiUon  in  Spain  and  the  Thirty 
YearB*  War  for  religious  liberty  in  Germany,  this 
phmUUon  along  the  Hudson  offered  protection 
m  America  to  those  rights  of  free  conscience  for 
which  so  much  blood  had  been  shed  and  so  much 
treasure  spent  in  Europe. 

The  Dutch  colonisU  were  deeply  religious,  with 
no  more  bigotry  than  wa  inseparable  from  the 
ideas  of  the  seventeenth  centuiy.  They  were  de- 
termined to  uphold  the  right  to  worship  God  in 

8S 


f     I 


y% 


I  ,     » 
»l         -I 


riM 


A' 


:(- 


84  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
their  own  way;  and  to  say  that  their  own  way  of 
worship  was  as  dear  to  them  as  their  beliefs  is  not 
strikingly  to  differentiate  them  from  the  rest  of 
mankind.  They  brought  with  them  from  the  home 
country  a  tenacious  reverence  for  their  fathers' 
method  of  worship  and  for  the  Calvinistic  polity 
of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church.  They  looked 
with  awe  upon  the  synod,  the  final  tribunal  in 
Holland  for  ecclesiastical  disputes.  They  regarded 
with  respect  the  clasiis,  composed  of  ministers  and 
elders  in  a  certain  district;  but  their  hearts  went 
out  in  a  special  affection  to  the  conaiatory,  which 
was  made  up  of  the  ministers  and  elders  of  the 
single  local  kerk.  This  at  least  they  could  repro- 
duce in  the  crude  conditions  under  which  they 
labored,  and  it  seemed  a  link  with  the  home  which 
they  had  left  so  far  behind  them. 

They  had  no  intention,  however,  of  forcing  this 
church  discipline  on  those  who  could  not  con- 
scientiously accept  it.  The  devout  wish  of  WiKiam 
the  Silent  that  all  his  countrymen  might  dwell  to- 
gether in  amity  regardless  of  religious  differences 
was  fulfilled  among  the  early  settlers  in  New 
Netherland.  Their  reputation  for  tolerance  was 
spread  abroad  early  in  the  history  of  the  col- 
ony, and  Huguenots,  Lutherans,  Presbyterians, 


^ffB^STBItpAit:  ABOUT  luo 


t- 


f  ': 


) 


,  ■  1 


V 


^''^ 


ill 


t.l 


hi.  i.H'U;../ 


rri,".rik. 


•;  HUBSOX 

I-:.  =  ur. T  own  way  (.• 
;  Ji-i  ^!^pir  ix^Iiefsisnf 

■   ''n:ni  the  ivsf 


r 


II 


».av  fioak  .UKoaaTZUK  ^av. 


till  .1  i 


i,     i  i 


le^ 


f  i 


) 


'^ 


:[: 


>.'',. 

;']i^ 


■( , 


m 


m 


Uf 


DOBONES  AND  SCHOOL-TEACHERS  85 
MoraviaM,  and  Anabaptists  Kved  unmolested  in 
New  Netherland  tiU  the  coming  of  Director 
Peter  Stuyvesant  in  1647. 

The  leligioas  tyranny  which  marked  Stuyve- 
■aot-s  rule  must  be  set  down  to  his  personal  dis- 
credit, for  ahnost  every  instance  of  pereecution 
was  met  by  protest  from  the  settlers  themselves, 
including  his  corehgionists.    He  dqjorted  to  Hol- 
land a  Lutheran  preacher;  he  revived  and  enforced 
a  dormant  rule  of  the  West  India  Company  wUch 
forbade  the  establishment  of  any  church  other 
than  the  Dutch  Reformed;  and  he  imprisoned 
parents  who  refused  to  have  their  children  bap- 
tized in  that  faith.   But  it  was  in  his  dealings  with 
the  Quakers  that  his  bigotiy  showed  itself  in  its 
most  despotic  form.    Robert  Hodgson,  a  young 
Quaker,  was  arrested  in  Hempstead.  Long  Island, 
and  was  brought  to  New  Amsterdam.    After  he 
had  been  kept  in  prison  for  several  days,  the 
nwgistrate  condemned  him  either  to  pay  a  fine  of 
a  hundred  guilders  or  to  work  with  a  wheelbarrow 
for  two  years  in  company  with  negroes.    He  de- 
clined to  do  either.    After  two  or  three  days  he  was 
whipped  on  his  bare  back  and  warned  that  the 
punishment  would  be  repeated  if  he  persisted  in 
his  obstinaey.     This  treatment  is  recorded  by  the 


\ 


;«i 


^ISj 


i'^r 


m 


f,;r 


i;ir 


M  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
Domines  Megapolcnsis  and  Drisius  in  a  letter  to 
the  claitit  of  Amsterdam,  not  only  without  pro- 
test but  with  eveiy  sign  of  approbation.  Yet  in 
the  end  public  opinion  made  itself  felt  and  Mm. 
Bayard,  Stuyvesant's  sister  (or  sister-in-law,  as 
some  authorities  say)  procured  the  release  of  his 
victim. 

In  another  case,  a  resident  of  Flushing  ventured 
to  hold  Quaker  meetings  at  his  home.    He  was 
sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  or  submit  to  be  flogged  and 
banished;  but  the  town  oflicers  refused  to  cany 
out  the  decree.    A  letter,  signed  by  a  number  of 
prominent  townsfolk  of  Flushing,  declared  that  the 
law  of  love,  peace,  and  liberty  was  the  true  glory 
of  HoDand,  that  they  desired  not  to  offend  one  of 
Christ's  little  ones  under  whatever  name  he  ap- 
peared, whether  Presbyterian,  Independent.  Bap- 
tist, or  Quaker.    "Shouldanyofthesepeopleeome 
in  love  among  us  therefore. "  said  they,  "we  cannot 
in  conscience  lay  violent  hands  upon  them."   This 
letter  immediately  brought  down  upon  the  writers 
the  despotic  rage  of  Stuyvesant.     The  sheriff  of 
Flushing  was  cashiered  and  fined;  the  town  clerk 
was  imprisoned;  and  penalties  of  varying  degree 
were  imposed  on  all  the  signers. 
When   accounte   of  Stuyvesant's  proceedings 


DOBONES  AND  SCHOOL-TEACHERS  87 
KMhed  Anutadam,  however,  ue  received  from 
tte  Chamber  « letter  of  stinging  rebuke,  informing 
him  that  "the  consciences  of  men  ought  to  be  free 
and  unshackled,  so  long  as  they  continue  moderate, 
moffensive,  and  not  hostile  to  government."  The 
Chamber,  after  reminding  the  Director  that  tolera- 
Uon  in  old  Amsterdam  had  brought  the  oppressed 
and  persecuted  of  all  countries  to  that  city  as  to  an 
wylum,  recommended  Stuyvesant  to  follow  in  the 
same  course.  Herewith  ended  the  brief  period  ol 
religious  persecution  in  New  Netherland. 

The  amiable  Domine  Megapolensis  who  ac- 
quiesced in  these  persecutions  came  over  to  the 
colony  of  Rensselaerswyck  in  164«  in  the  service  of 
Eliaen  Van  Rensselaer.  He  was  to  have  a  salary 
of  forty  guilders  per  month  and  a  fit  dwelling  that 
was  to  be  provided  for  him.  So  the  "Reverend, 
Rous,  and  learned  Dr.  Johannes  M^polensis, 
junior."  set  sail  for  America  "to  proclaim  Christ 
to  Christians  and  heathens  in  such  distant  lands." 
His  name,  by  the  way.  like  that  of  Erasmus.  Me- 
lanchthon.  JScolampadius,  Dryander.  and  other 
worthies  of  the  Reformation,  was  a  classical  form 
of  the  homely  Dutch  patronymic  to  which  he  had 
been  bom. 

ApparenUy  the  Reverend  Johannes  was  more 


¥ 


lit  I. 


ill 


88  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
•uccMrfuI  in  hi.  miMion  to  the  heathen  than  in 
that  to  the  Chrirtiana,  for  he  learned  the  Mofaa^^ 
language,  wrote  a  valuable  account  of  the  tribe, 
and  understood  them  better  than  he  understood 
the  Lutherans  and  Quakers  of  New  Amsterdam 
and  Long  Island.    L»  1664  when  Stuyvesant  was 
m  the  mood  to  fire  on  the  British  fleet  and  take  the 
consequences,  Megapolensis.  so  tradition  runs,  dis- 
suaded him  with  the  argument:   "Qf  what  avail 
«e  our  poor  guns  against  that  broadside  of  more 
than  sixty?    It  is  wrong  to  shed  innocent  blood." 
One  wonders  if  the  domine  had  any  room  in  his 
mind  for  thoughts  of  the  useless  sufferings  which 
had  been  inflicted  on  Hodgson  and  Townsend  and 
the  Lutheran  preachers  while  he  stood  by  cob- 
aenting. 

When  M^apolensis  arrived  at  New  Netherland 
he  found  the  Reverend  Everardus  Bogardus  al- 
ready installed  as  minister  of  the  Gospel  at  Fort 
Amsterdam,  his  predecessor  Michaelius  having 
returned  to  Holland.  From  the  b^inning  Bo- 
gardus proved  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the  Govern- 
ment. He  came  to  blows  with  Van  Twifler  and 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  Director  in  which  he  caUed 
hhn  a  child  of  the  Devil,  a  villain  whose  bucks  were 
better  than  he,  to  whom  he  should  give  such  a 


DOMINES  AND  SCHOOL-TEACHERS  80 
■liake  from  the  puJpit  the  foUowing  Sabbath  at 
would  make  him  shudder. 

The  difficulties  which  Bogardus  had  with  Van 
Twiller,  however,  were  as  the  breath  of  May 
tephyn  compared  to  his  stormy  quarrels  with 
Eeft.    This  Director  had  taken  Bogardus  to  task 
for  having  goue  into  the  pulpit  intoxicated,  and 
had  also  accused  him  of  defending  the  greatest 
crmimals  in  the  country  and  of  writing  in  their 
defense.    The  fighting  parson  promptly  countered 
on  this  attack.    "What. "  Le  asked  from  the  pul- 
pit, "are  the  great  men  of  the  country  but  recep- 
tacles of  wrath,  fountains  of  woe  and  trouble? 
Nothing  is  thought  of  but  to  plunder  other  people's 
px-operty  —  to  dismiss  —  to  banish  —  to  transport 
to  Hollan  .••     Kieft.  realizing  that  he  had  raised 
up  a  fighter  more  unsparing  than  himself  and. 
unable  to  endure  these  harangues  from  the  pulpit, 
ceased  to  attend  the  hrk;  but  the  warlike  domine 
contmued  to  belabor  him  till  Eett  prepared  an 
mdictment,  beginning:  "Whereas  your  c-onduct 
sbrs  the  people  to  mutiny  and  rebellion  when  they 
are  ah^y  too  much  divided,  causes  schisms  and 
abuses  in  the  church,  and  makes  us  a  scorn  and 
a  laughing  stock  to  our  neighbors,  all  which  can- 
not be  tolerated  in  a  country  where  justice  is 


Mi 


m 


>^ 


h 


•Isf 


90  DUTCH  AND  EN6USH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
nwintained,  therefore  our  saaed  duty  impera- 
tively require!  ui  to  prowcute  you  in  a  court  of  jus- 
tice." The  quarrel  was  never  fought  to  a  finidi 
but  wa«  allowed  to  die  out,  and  the  epiM>de  aided 
without     --dit  to  either  party. 

Like  everything  else  in  the  colony  of  New  Nether^ 
land,  the  original  meeting-places  for  wordiip  were 
of  the  simplert  type.  Domine  Megapoleniia  held 
»ervice»  in  his  own  house,  and  Bogardus  conducted 
worship  in  the  upper  part  of  the  horse-mill  at  Fort 
Amsterdam,  where  before  his  arrival  Sebastian 
Jansen  Krol  and  Jan  Huyck  had  read  from  the 
Scriptures  on  Sunday.  These  men  had  been  ap- 
pointed ziekentrooftera  or  krankenbetoeckers  {i.e., 
consolers  of  the  sick),  whose  business  it  was,  in 
addition  to  their  consolatory  functions,  to  hold 
Sunday  services  in  the  absence  of  a  regularly 
ordained  clergyman.  In  time  these  rude  gathering- 
places  gave  way  to  buildings  of  wood  or  stone, 
modeled,  as  one  would  expect,  on  similar  buildings 
in  the  old  country,  with  a  pulpit  built  high  above 
the  congregation,  perhaps  with  intent  to  empha- 
size the  authority  of  the  church. 

The  clerk,  or  voorleser,  standing  in  the  baptis- 
tery below  the  pulpit,  opened  the  services  by  read- 
ing from  the  Bible  and  leading  in  the  singing  of 


D0BCD4ES  AND  SCHOOL-TEACHERS     91 
»  pMlm.    The  domin*.  who  hi^l  stood  in  silent 
pnjrer  during  the  pssfan,  afterwud  entered  the 
pu]pit.  and  then  laid  out  hu  text  and  iu  connec- 
tion with  the  sermon  to  follow  — a  part  af  the 
service  known  as  the  exordium  nnubm.  During 
this  address  the  deacons  stood  facing  the  pulpit, 
alms-bag  in  hand.   The  deacons  collected  the  cor 
tribution  by  thrusting  in  front  of  each  row  of  seaU 
the  kerk  taeje*  of  cloth  or  velvet  suspended  from 
the  end  of  a  long  pole.    SomeUmes  a  bell  hung  at 
the  bottom  of  the  bag  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
slothful  or  the  niggardly  to  the  contribution,  and 
while  the  bags  were  passed  the  domitu  was  wont 
to  dweU  upon  the  necessiUes  of  the  poor  and  to 
invoke  blessings  upon  those  who  gave  liberally  to 
their  support   When  the  sermon  commenced,  the 
voorring>  •  turned  the  hour-glass  which  marked  the 
length  of  the  discourse.    The  sermon  ended,  the 
voorleter  rose  and.  with  the  aid  of  a  long  rod  cleft 
in  the  end,  handed  to  the  domitie  in  the  pulpit  the 
requests  for  prayers  or  thanksgiving  offered  by 
members  of  the  congregation.    When  these  had 
been  read  aloud,  another  psahn  was  sung  and  the 
people  then  filed  out  in  an  orderly  procession. 

The  principle  of  competitive  giving  for  the 
church  was  evidently  weU  understood  in  New 


'^T 


f  'f\ 


^i/fi 


m 


M  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  H0D8QN 
AnutenUm.   De  Vri«  luw  Wt  lu  m  «wmnt  of  • 
conveMtkm  held  in  164S  between  hinuelf  and 
Kef  t  in  which  he  toM  the  Director  that  there  WM 
great  need  of  a  church,  that  it  WM  •  iCMidal  when 
the  English  came  that  they  ihould  tee  only  a  mean 
bam  for  public  wordiip,  that  the  fint  thing  built 
in  New  England  after  the  dwelling*  waa  a  church, 
and  that  there  was  the  leu  excuse  for  the  Dutch  as 
they  had  fine  wood,  good  stone,  and  lime  made 
from  oyster  shells,  close  at  hand.    The  Director 
admitted  the  justice  of  the  plea  but  asked  who 
would  undertake  the  work.    "Those  who  love  the 
Reformed  Religion,"  De  Vries  answered.    Ejeft 
replied  adroitly  that  De  Vries  must  be  one  of  them, 
as  he  had  proposed  the  plan,  and  that  he  should 
give  a  hundred  guilders.    De  Vries  crafUly  ob- 
served that  Kief  t  as  commander  must  be  the  first 
giver.    Kieft  bethought  himself  that  he  couM  use 
several  thousand  guilders  from  the  Company's 
funds.    Not  only  was  he  as  good  as  his  word,  but 
later  he  contrived  to  extort  private  subscriptions 
on  the  occasion  of  the  marriage  of  Bogardus's  step- 
daughter.   As  usual  when  the  rfomtjM  was  present, 
the  wine  flowed  freely.    "The  Director  thought 
this  a  good  time  for  his  purpose,  and  set  to  work 
after  the  fourth  or  fifth  drink;  and  he  himself 


D0MINB8  AND  SCBOOL-TBACBERS  M 
•rtting  «  lOmai  ezraple.  let  the  weddiof-guetU 
iilii  whatever  thfly  were  diepoied  to  give  towawU 
the  church.  Ewh,  then,  with  »  light  he«I,  mb- 
•cribed  ftway  at  •  hambome  rate,  one  competing 
with  the  other;  and  although  lome  heartily  re- 
pented it  when  their  lenaet  came  bade,  they  were 
obliged  ne  /ertheleu  to  pay." 

In  view  of  thii  story  it  waa  periiapa  a  fine 
irony  which  iupired  the  inscription  placed  on  the 
church  when  it  was  finished:  "Ao.  Do,  MDCXUI 
W.  Kieft  Dr.  Gr.  Benft  de  QmemU  dttm  Trnpri 
doen  Bouum."  U.  "William  Kieft,  the  Director^ 
General,  has  caused  the  congregation  to  build  this 
church."  The  correct  interpretaUon.  however, 
probably  read:  "William  Kieft  being  Director^ 
General,  the  congregation  has  caused  this  church 
to  be  built. ' 

Evidently  religion  prospered  better  than  educa- 
tion in  the  colony,  for  the  same  Kvely  witness  who 
reports  the  Bogardus  affair  and  the  generosity 
stimulated  by  the  flowing  wine  says  also:  "The 
'owl  has  been  passed  around  a  long  time  for  a 
common  school  which  has  been  built  with  words 
for  as  yet  the  firat  stone  is  not  laid;  some  materiab 
only  have  been  provided.    However  the  money 

■BnxU,e«I.  Butory  ,^ A. Stat. ^ N„  York.  vol.  .,  p.  8»(not.). 


■;'  ■^< 


\'.l 


mil 


m 


il- 


%hr 


84  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
given  for  the  purpose  has  all  disappeared  and  is 
mostly  spent,  so  that  it  falls  somewhat  suort;  and 
nothing  permanent  has  as  yet  been  effected  for  this 
purpose." 

The  first  schoohnaster  sent  to  New  Netherland 
arrived  in  1688  at  the  same  time  as  Bogardus,  and 
represented  the  cause  of  education  even  less  credit- 
ably than  did  the  bibulous  domine  that  of  religion. 
Adam  Boekotsen  was  twenty-seven  yeais  old 
when  he  took  up  his  duties  as  instructor  of  youth 
in  the  colony,  and  he  was  as  precious  a  scoundrel  as 
ever  was  set  to  teach  the  young.    He  eked  out  his 
slender  income  in  the  early  days  by  taking  in 
washing  or  by  estabUshing  a  bleachery.  which  must 
»>s  noted  as  one  of  the  most  creditable  items  in  his 
scandalous  career.    He  was  constantly  before  the 
local  courts  of  New  Amsterdam,  sometimes  as 
plaintiff,  sometimes  as  defendant,  and  finally  he 
appeared  as  a  malefactor  charged  with  so  grave  an 
offense  that  the  court  declared  that,  as  such  deeds 
could  not  be  tolerated,  "therefore  we  condemn  the 
said  Roelantsen  to  be  brought  to  the  place  of  exe- 
cution and  there  flogged  and  banished  forever  out 
of  this  country."    Apparently,  on  the  plea  of 
having  four  motherless  children,  he  escaped  the 
infliction  of  punishment  and  continued  alternately 


ff 


DOMINES  AND  SCHOOL-TEACHERS     95 

to  amuse  and  to  outrage  the  respectable  burghers 
of  New  Amsterdam.  He  was  succeeded  in  order  by 
Jan  Stevensen,  Jan  Comebssen,  William  Verstius, 
sometimes  written  Vestens,  Johannes  Morice  de  la 
Montague.  Harmanus  Van  Hoboocken.  and  Evert 
Ketersen.  In  addition  to  these  there  were  two 
teachers  of  a  Latin  school  and  several  unofficial 
instructors. 

The  duties  of  these  early  teachers  were  by  no 
means  light,  especially  in  proportion  to  their  scanty 
wage.    We  learn  in  one  case  that  school  began  at 
eight  in  the  morning  and  lasted  until  eleven,  when 
there  was  a  two-hour  recess,  after  which  it  began 
again  at  one  and  closed  at  four  o'clock.   It  was  the 
duty  of  the  teacher  to  instruct  the  children  in  the 
catechism  and  common  prayer.    The  teacher  was 
ordered  to  appear  at  the  church  on  Wednesdays 
with  the  children  entrusted  to  his  care,  to  examine 
his  scholars  "in  the  presence  of  the  Reverend 
Ministers  and  Elders  who  may  be  present,  what 
they  in  the  course  of  the  week,  do  remember  of 
the  Christian  commands  and  catechism,  and  what 
progress  they  have  made;  after  which  the  children 
shall  be  allowed  a  decent  recreation." 

Besides  his  duties  as  instructor,  the  official 
schoolmaster  was  pledged  "to  promote  rehgious 


H,'' 


^:H ,. 


liM 


'f 


'■ 


m  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
worship,  to  read  a  portion  of  the  word  of  God  to  the 
people,  to  endeavor,  as  much  as  possible  to  bring 
them  up  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord,  to  console  them 
in  their  sickness,  and  to  conduct  himself  with  all 
diligence  and  fidelity  in  his  calling,  so  as  to  give 
others  a  good  example  as  becometh  a  devout, 
pious  and  worthy  consoler  of  the  sick,  church- 
clerk,  Precenter  and  School  master." 

Throughout  the  history  of  New  Netherland  we 
find  the  church  and  school  closely  knit  together. 
Frequently  the  same  building  served  for  secular 
instruction  on  week-days  and  for  religious  service 
on  Sundays.  In  a  letter  written  by  Van  Curler  to 
his  patroon,  he  says:  "As  for  the  Church  it  is  not 
yet  contracted  for,  nor  even  begun.  .  .  .  That 
which  I  intend  to  build  this  summer  in  the  pine 
grove  (or  green  wood)  will  be  thirty-four  feet  long 
by  nineteen  wide.  It  will  be  large  enough  for  the 
first  three  or  four  years  to  preach  in  and  can  after- 
wards always  serve  for  the  residence  of  the  sexton 
or  for  a  school." 

How  small  were  the  assemblies  of  the  faithful 
in  the  early  days  we  may  gather  from  a  letter  of 
Michaelius,  the  first  domine  of  the  colony,  inci- 
dentally also  one  of  the  most  lovable  and  spirit- 
ually minded  of  these  men.    In  his  account  of  the 


DOBnNES  AND  SCHOOL-TEACBERS  97 
condition  of  tlie  chureh  at  Manhattan  he  observes 
that  at  the  first  communion  fifty  were  present. 
The  number  of  Walloon.,  and  IWnch-speaking 
settlen.  was  so  small  that  the  doming  did  not  think 
It  worth  while  to  hold  a  spedal  service  for  them, 
but  once  in  four  months  he  contented  himself  with 
«J°»ini8tering  the  communion  and  preaching  a 
sermon  in  French.  This  discourse  he  found  it 
necessary  to  commit  to  writing,  as  he  could  not 

trust  himself  to  speak  extemporaneously  in  that 
language.    There  is  something  beautiful  and  pa- 
thetic  in  the  picture  of  this  little  group  of  half 
a  hundred  settlers  in  the  wilderness,  gathered  in 
the  upper  room  of  the  gristmill,  surrounded  by 
the  sa<is  of  grain,  and  drinking  from  the  oroni- 
nadsbeker,  or  communion  cup.  while  the  rafters 
echoed  to  the  solemn  sounds  of  the  liturgy  which 
h«d  been  familiar  in  their  old  homes  across  the  sea. 
There  is  the  true  ring  of  a  devout  and  sin.ple 
piety  in  all  the  utterances  of  the  settlers  on  the 
subject  of  their  church.    The  pioneers  were  reajy 
to  spend  and  be  spent  in  its  service  and  they  gave 
freely  out  of  their  scanty  resources  for  its  support 
In  the  matter  of  education  their  enthusiasm,  as 
we  have  seen,  was  far  less  glowing,  and  the  rea- 
sons for  this  cookess  are  a  subject  for  cuiiou. 


Jl^ 


'11. 


) 


'»iU 


..  1', 


t!H 


88  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
consideration.  The  Dutch  in  Europe  were  a  highly 
cultivated  people,  devoted  to  learning  and  rever- 
encing the  printed  book.  Why  then  were  their 
countiymen  in  the  New  World  willing  to  leave  the 
education  of  their  children  in  the  hands  of  inferior 
teachers  and  to  delay  so  long  the  building  of  suit- 
able schoolhouses? 

We  must  remember  that  the  colonists  in  the 
early  days  were  drawn  from  a  very  simple  class. 
Their  church  was  important  to  them  as  a  social 
center  as  well  as  a  spiritual  guide.   For  this  church 
they  were  willing  to  make  any  sacrifice;  but  that 
done,  they  must  pause  and  consider  the  needs  of 
their  daily  life.    Children  old  enough  to  attend 
school  were  old  enough  to  lend  a  helping  hand  on 
the  bouwerie,  in  the  dairy,  or  by  the  side  of  the 
cradle.    Money  if  plentiful  might  well  be  spent  on 
salaries  and  schoolhouses;  but  if  scarce,  it  must  be 
saved  for  bread  and  butter,  clothing,  warmth,  and 
shelter.    In  short,  reading,  writing,  and  figuring 
could  wait;  but  souls  must  be  saved  first;  and  after 
that  eating  and  drinking  were  matters  of  pressing 
urgency.    Fortunately,  however,  not  all  education 
is  bound  up  in  books,  and,  in  the  making  of 
sturdy  and  eflScient  colonists,  the  rude  training  of 
hardships  and  privation  when  combined  with  a 


DOMINES  AND  SCHOOL-TEACHEBS  99 
fi«t.h«nd  knowledge  of  nature  and  of  the  essential 
mdu^esp^videdafairsubsftuteforlea^.^ 
On  the  other  side  of  the  picture  we  muZon. 
«der  what  type  of  n>en  would  naturally  be  drZ 
^^s  the  sea  and  settle  in  the  n^eolonH 
^2  f;-y°^^-lergyn.encan,eurge" 

whach  fired  John  Eliot  in  New  England  andl" 
W  Fathers  in  the  Canadian  missions.  For  Se 
sohooln^stej.  there  was  not  this  incentive.  1 
1«  "**--J'y 'ooked  upon  the  question  of  emi- 

SZ  "".'  .  ""^  ^'^'^  °'  '^  -hance  of 
ZT  '^'"^'^^^'-  ^  -  first  considera- 
tion  they   must   have  realized  that   they  were 

were  held  «  h.gh  respect.  "There  was  hardly  a 
Nejerlander."  says  Motley,  "man.  woZ^: 
^d.  that  «>uld  not  read  and  write.  The  school 
was  the  common  property  of  the  people,  paid  for 

r^th  ""fr'  ^^""^  •"  ^«  =■«- «  wi 

«  m  the  rural  districts.  There  were  not  only 
common  schools  but  classical  schools.  In  the 
urgher  families  it  was  rare  to  find  boys  who  h^ 
W"  Z'  "f *"  °'  ^''^  -acquainted  with 
R^nch.  F„>m  this  atmosphere  of  schoIasUc  en- 
thusiasm, from  the  opportunities  of  the  libraries 


.1^ 


r  1    I 

i ,  '* 


) 


'»,'   ' 


;  •'  fej 

if  ■. 

i     ,  \:    ■ 
t   .  ,     ■  ' 

M 

■■■If-' 

I 


100  DUTCH  AND  EN6USH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
and  contact  with  the  universities,  the  pedagogue 
was  invited  to  turn  to  a  rude  settlement  in  the 
primeval  forest,  where  the  Bible,  the  catechism, 
and  the  concordance  formed  the  greater  part  of 
the  literary  wealth  at  his  disposal,  and  to  take 
up  the  multiple  duties  of  sexton,  bell-ringer,  pre- 
centor, schoohnaster,  consoler  of  the  sick,  and 
general  understudy  for  the  domine.  In  return  for 
this  he  'n  OS  to  receive  scanty  wages  in  either  cash  or 
public  esteem. 

What  hardships  were  experienced  by  these  early 
iichoolmasters  in  New  Netherland  we  may  under- 
stand by  reading  Jie  Reverential  Request  written  by 
Harmanus  Van  Hoboocken  to  the  burgomasters  and 
eehepene  that  he  may  be  allowed  the  use  of  the  ball 
and  side-chamber  of  the  Stadt-Huys  to  accommo- 
date his  school  and  as  a  residence  for  his  family, 
as  he  has  no  place  to  keep  school  in  or  to  live  in 
during  the  winter,  for  it  is  necessary  that  the  rooms 
should  be  made  warm,  and  that  cannot  be  done 
in  his  own  house.  The  burgomasters  and  «cAepen« 
replied  that  "whereas  the  room  which  petitioner 
asks  for  his  use  as  a  dwelling  and  schoohnom  is  out 
of  repair  and  moreover  is  wanted  for  other  uses  it 
cannot  be  allowed  to  him.  But  as  the  town  youth 
are  doing  so  uncommon  well  now,  it  is  thought 


DOMINES  AND  SCHOOL-TEACHERS    101 

proper  to  find  a  convenient  place  for  their  accom- 

modationandforthatpurposepeUtioneriagranted 
one  hundred  guilders  yearly." 

Can  we  wonder  that  New  Netherland  did  not 
"Wiure  a  particularly  learned  and  distinguished 
typt  of  pedagogue  in  the  early  days?  In  1658  the 
burgomasters  and  achepetu,  of  New  Amsterdam 
with  a  view  to  founding  an  academy  petitioned  the 
West  India  Company  for  a  teacher  of  Latin,  and 
Alexander  Carolus  Curtius  was  sent  over  to  be 
the  classical  teiicher  in  the  new  academy;  but  he 
was  so  disheartened  by  the  smallness  of  Us  salaiy 
and  by  the  roughness  of  the  youthful  burghers 
that  he  shortly  returned  to  Holland,  and  his  place 
was  taken  by  ^gidius  Luyck.  who.  though  only 
twenty-two  years  old,  established  such  discipline 
and  taught  so  weU  that  the  reputation  of  the  acad- 
emy spread  far  and  wide,  and  Dutch  boys  were  no 
longer  sent  to  New  Enghmd  to  learn  their  classics 


k 


:k  .« 


4ii 


'If  «1 


:■  I 


CHAPTER  VI 


I 


THE  BUBGBEBS 

In  the  earUest  days  of  New  Netherland  there  were 
no  burgers  because,  as  the  name  implies,  burghers 
are  town-dwellers,  and  for  a  number  of  years  after 
the  coming  of  the  Dutch  nothing  worthy  to  be 
called  a  town  existed  in  the  colony.  In  the  middle 
of  the  seventeenth  century  a  traveler  wrote  from 
New  Netherland  that  there  were  only  three  towns 
on  the  Hudson  —  Port  Orange,  Rondout,  and  New 
Amsterdam  —  and  that  the  rest  were  mere  villages 
or  settlements. 

These  centers  were  at  first  trading-posts,  and  it  is 
as  idle  to  judge  of  the  manners,  customs,  and  dress 
prevailing  in  them  by  those  of  Holland  at  the  same 
epoch,  as  to  judge  San  Francisco  in  the  mining 
days  of  1849  by  Boston  and  New  York  at  the  same 
date.  These  early  traders  and  settlers  brought 
with  them  the  character  and  traditions  of  home; 
but  their  way  of  life  was  perforce  modified  by  the 
1« 


THE  BURGHERS  im 

crude  condition,  into  which  they  plunged     ITie 
picturesque  farmhouses  of  Lour  I,l«,d  and  the 
crow-gables  of  New  Amsterdam  were  not  built  in  a 
day.   Savages  must  be  subdued  and  land  cleared 
and  planted  before  the  evolution  of  the  dwelling 
could  fairly  begin.     Primitive  community  life  lin- 
gered long  even  on  Manhattan  Island.   As  late  as 
1649  the  farmers  petitioned  for  a  free  pasturage 
between  their  plantation  of  Schepmoes  and  the 
fence  of  the  Great  Bowerie  Number  One.     The 
City  HaU  Park  region  bounded  by  Broadway.  Nas- 
Mu.  Ann.  and  Chambers  Streets  continued  very 
late  to  be  recogmzed  as  village  commons  where 
the  cattle  were  pastured.     The  cowherd  drove 
the  cows  afield  and  home  again  at  milking-time 
and  It  was  bis  business  to  sound  his  horn  at  every' 
gate  announcing  the  safe  return  of   the   cows 
Correspondingly  in  the  morning  the  harsh  sum- 
mom,  called  the  cattle  from  eveiy  yaid  to  join  the 
procession  toward  the  meadows. 

When  Tienhoven.  Stuyvesant's  secretary,  sent 
out  information  for  the  benefit  of  those  planning 
to  take  up  land  in  New  Netherland,  he  suggested 
that  those  who  had  not  means  to  build  at  first 
imght  shelter  themselves  by  digging  a  pit  six  or 
seven  feet  deep  as  large  as  needed,  covering  the 


■1:! 


104  DCTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
floor  and  walb  with  timber  and  placing  over  it  a 
roof  of  ipan  covered  with  bark  or  green  mnI*. 
Even  with  this  rude  hounng  he  luggeslr  planting 
«t  once  a  garden  with  all  sorU  of  pot-herb«  and 
mtite.  or  Indian  com.  which  might  serve  as  food 
for  man  and  beast  alike.    Naturally  these  pioneer 
conditions  of  living  lasted  longer  in  the  farming 
region  than  at  New  Amsterdam,  where  a .  early  as 
1640  we  see  simple  but  comfortable  little  houses 
clustered  in  the  shelter  of  the  fort,  and  gathered 
close  about  the  stone  tavern,  the  West  India  Com- 
pwiy's  stores,  and  the  Church  of  St.  Nicholas. 
The  gallows  and  pillory,  in  full  view,  seemed  to 
serve  notice  that  law  and  order  had  as8ert..^  them- 
selves and  that  settlers  might  safely  soliU^y  their 
houses  and  holdings. 

In  1648  the  building  of  wooden  chimneys  was 
forbidden,  and  roofs  of  reed  were  replaced  with 
more  solid  and  less  inflammable  material  The 
constant  threat  of  fire  led  to  drastic  regulations 
for  the  cleaning  of  chimneys.  It  was  ordered  that 
'if  anyone  prove  negligent  he  shall,  whenever  the 
Firewardens  find  the  chimneys  foul,  forthwith 
without  any  contradiction,  pay  them  a  fine  of  three 
guilders  for  every  flue  found  on  examination  to  be 
dirty,  to  be  expended  for  fire  ladders,  hooks  and 


TOE  BDBGBEBS  joj 

tmek«t^  which  diaU  be  procu«d  and  provided  at 
the  euheit  and  most  convenient  opportunity  " 

The  early  .ettlew  found  much  difficulty  in  en. 
forcmg  public  wnitaUon.  for.  in  q>ite  of  the  world- 

widerepuution  of  the  Dutch  for  indoor  deanlinew, 
we  &.d  the  burgher,  in  1858  bitterly  reproached 

for  Growing  their  rubbirfi.  filth.  de«l  animal,,  and 
thehkemtothestreeta-tothegreatinconvemence 
of  the  oommmuly  and  dwigers  ariring  from  it." 
nie  bu.goma.ter8  and  ^hepen»  ordained  that  all 
.uch  refu«  be  brought  to  dumping-ground,  near 
the  City  Hall  and  the  gallow.  or  to  other  derig. 
Mted  place..  Failure  to  ob«rve  thi.  rule  wa. 
punidiable  by  fine,  or  Mverer  penaltie.. 

■*-P««'PerityincreaMd.aU  condition,  of  living 
unproved.  Many  .hip.  f«,m  Holland  brought 
toada  of  brick  and  tile.  a.  ballast,  and  the  hou«a 
began  to  awume  the  typical  Dutch  a.pect.  Hey 
w«e  .till  built  chiefly  of  wood,  but  with  a  gable 
end  of  brick  f«ang  the  rtreet.  The  .teep  roof, 
seldom  had  eave-trough..  at  least  in  the  early  day. 
and  mention  is  made  in  deeds  of  "free-drip." 

The  house  was  supplied,  as  the  chronicler  tells 
u«.  with  'an  abundance  of  laige  doors  and  .maU 
windows  on  every  floor,  the  date  of  ite  erection  was 
curiously  dedgnated  by  iron  figure,  on  the  front. 


i)^ 


I  I. 


'I 


(ll 


III 


.i 


w 


10«  DCTCR  AND  BNGUSH  ON  THB  HUDSON 
•nd  on  the  top  d  the  roof  WM  perched  •  fiem 
Httle  weatherHMck  to  Irt  the  family  into  the  im- 
portant Mcret  which  way  the  wind  blew."  The 
front  doora  were  luualljr  divided,  aa  in  the  old 
houiea  in  Holland,  into  an  upper  and  lower  half 
hung  on  heavy  hinge..  The  door  opened  with  a 
latch,  and  bore  a  braM  knocker  wrou^t  frequently 
in  the  device  of  an  animal's  head. 

Only  on  formal  occasions  was  this  door  thrown 
open  or  the  fore-room  to  which  it  gave  access  used, 
for  the  life  of  the  family,  as  in  all  primitive  com* 
mmJties.  was  centered  in  the  kitchen.    Hm  in 
winter  roared  the  great  fires  up  the  wide-throated 
chimneys.     Here   children   and   negro   servants 
gathered  in  groups  and  told  stories  of  the  old  home 
and  the  new.   Here  the  women  knit  their  stockings 
and  here  the  buighers  smoked  when  the  day's 
work  was  done.    But  the  fore-room,  or  voorhui*, 
though  seldom  occupied,  was  dear  to  the  soul  of 
themmwofNewNetherland.    Here  stood  all  the 
treasures  too  valuable  or  too  fragile  for  daily  use: 
the  kcut.  or  chest,  stored  with  household  linen, 
the  cabinet  filled  with  Delft  phtes  from  Holland.' 
*nd  generally  the  carved  four-poster  covered  with 
feather  beds  of  prime  goose-feathers  and  hung  with 
gay  chintz. 


TBB  BDB0HBB8  107 

A  ■hrawd  oiMerm  luu  iaM  tliat  himy  impHef 

WMte  wUk  comfor*  "vet  Jn  thrift.    We  an  Mfe 

in  aMuming  that  comfort  rather  than  luxury  pn- 

»afled  in  New  Netherland  and  that  the  highly 

Miowd  picture. -.  elegant  life  on  the  ihorei  of  the 
HudMU  repreM»t  a  very  Ute  phaM.  when  the 
Dutch  influence  atill  prevailed  under  Ea^uh  pro- 
tection. The  earlier  .ettleie  were  a  far  aimpler 
people,  whow  floors  were  icnibbed  and  aanded 
in»tead  of  carpeted,  who  used  hour-glasses  instead 
of  docks,  and  who  set  their  four-poster  beds  in  the 
rooms  where  visitors  were  formally  received. 

It  was  of  course  the  "great  burghers"  who  set 
the  social  as  well  u  the  official  tone  in  New  Am- 
rterdaia.'  It  was  tiiey  who  owned  the  finest  houses. 

tote  pUofc  in  U»  mmier  it  murt  be  In  wtiOJUiiM  tlin«i  «5 
b»rgh«  w«  dec»«i  to  be  tho«  who  lad  UveSTSe  dUfcT.^ 


f 

I  1    1  ► 


V4 


^^1 


■ill 


y'4 


Mil 


i'0i 


u 


108  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
who  imported  tables  and  chests  of  ebony  inlaid 
with  ivory.    It  was  they  whose  wives  were  bravely 
fitted  out  with  petticoats,  over  which  an  upper 
garment  was  looped  to  display  the  velvet,  doth, 
silk,  or  satin  which  marked  the  social  position  and 
material  wealth  of  the  wearer.    The  burgher  him- 
self went  clad,  according  to  his  wealth,  in  cloaks 
of  cloth  or  velvet,  embroidered  or  silk-lined;  but 
he  always  wore  wide  boots  and  wide  breeches  and  a 
coat  adorned  with  an  abundance  of  buttons,  the 
whole  topped  by  a  broad-brimmed  hat  adorned 
with  buckles  and  feathers  and  seldom  removed 
mthehouse.    The  dress  of  the  farmers  was  sim-.ler 
than  that  of  the  town-dweUers  or  burghers."  It 
consisted  generally  of  wide  breeches,  a  hemdrok 
or  shirt-coat  made  of  wool  or  cotton,  an  overfrock 
caned  a  paltsrok.  a  low  flat  coUar.  the  usual  wide- 
brimmed  hat.  and  shoes  of  leather  on  Sundays,  and 
of  wood  on  week-days  for  work  on  the  bouwrie. 
The  children  of  burghers  and  farmers  alike  were 
dad  in  miniature  copies  of  the  garb  of  their  elders. 
doubtlessin  many  cases  wearing  thesame garments 

d»ta«U».w..««n,I«ndon«l    In  1668  the  di„inctl.n  ,„  .w! 

«^^?  '"7^  T^' ."  P""™"' »'  fifty  «"iW«.  «.  d«a«d 

entitled  to  sU  burgher  privilegea.  "--reu 


THE  BUSGHERS  109 

made  over  by  removing  the  outworn  portioM.  It 
WM  «  question  of  warmth  rather  than  fashion 
which  confronted  the  settlers  and  their  children. 

To  those  of  us  who  believe  that  the  state  exists 
for  the  protection  of  the  home  and  the  home  for  the 
protection  of  the  child,  it  is  neither  futile  nor  frivo- 
lous to  consider  at  some  length  what  life  had  to 
offer  to  the  small  colonists.    Little  Sarah  Rapaelje, 
"  the  first-bom  Christian  daughter  in  New  Nether- 
land,"  was  soon  surrounded  by  a  cirole  of  boys  and 
girls.   Cornells  Maasen  and  his  wife  came  over  in 
1631,  and  their  first  child  was  bom  on  the  voyage. 
FoUowing  this  Uttle  Hendrick  came  Martin,  Maas, 
Steyntje.  and  Tobias.    We  have  already  noted  the 
two  Httle  motherless  daughters  of  Domine  Mi- 
chaelius  who  were  so  hard  put  to  it  for  a  nurse. 
A  Httle  later  came  Domine  Megapolensis  with  his 
children  Hellegond,  Dirrick,  Jan,  and  Samuel, 
running  from  eight  to  fourteen  yeoi-s  in  age.    The 
patroon  had  directed  that  they  be  furnished  with 
clothing  "in  such  small  and  compact  parcels  as 
can  be  properly  stowed  away  on  the  ship." 

With  the  era  of  permanent  settlers  in  New 
Netherland,  cradles  came  to  be  in  demand.  In 
the  region  of  New  Amsterdam  the  f amiKar  hooded 
variety  was  brought  from  Holland,  while  farther 


■  ii 


'1 


no  DUTCH  T)  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
up  the  river  and  espedaUy  among  the  poorer  folk 
bhxsh  bark  was  fajhioned  into  a  sleeping-place  for 
the  babies.  For  the  older  children  trundle-beds 
fitting  under  the  big  f  our-postew  of  the  elden  and 
rolled  out  at  night  were  much  in  use,  since  the 
difficulty  of  heating  made  economy  of  bedroom- 
space  a  necessity.  Tliis  treke-bed  and  its  protect- 
ing four-poster,  however,  probably  came  later  than 
the  built-in  sloep-bank,  little  more  than  a  bunk 
in  the  side  of  the  wall  concealed  by  a  curtain  and 
softened  by  thick  feather-beds. 

However  rude  the  sleeping-place  of  the  babies, 
the  old  home  lullabies  soothed  them  to  slumber. 
Dearest  and  most  familiar  was  the  foUowing: 

Trip  a  trop  a  tronjes, 

De  varken  in  de  boonjea, 

De  koejes  in  de  klaver, 

De  paaden  in  de  haver, 

De  eenjes  in  de  water  plas, 

De  kalver  in  de  lang  gras. 

So  goed  myn  klein  poppetje  was. 

Thus  to  pictures  of  pigs  in  the  bean  patch  and 
cows  in  the  clover,  ducks  in  the  water  and  calves 
in  the  meadow,  the  little  ones  fefl  peacefully  to 
sleep,  oblivious  of  the  wild  beasts  and  wilder  men 
lurking  in  the  primeval  forests  around  the  little 


THE  BURGHEHS  ni 

clearing  where  the  pioneers  were  making  a  home 
for  themselves  and  their  children. 

When  the  babies'  eyelids  unclosed  in  the  morn- 
ing they  opened  on  a  busy  scene,  for  whatever 
amrious  vigils  the  father  and  mother  might  have 
kept  through  the  night,  toO  began  with  the  dawn. 
The  boys  were  set  to  gathering  firewood  and  draw- 
ing water,  while  the  goede  vrouw  was  busily  prepar- 
ing a  substantial  morning  meal  of  suppawn  and 
sausage  before  her  husband  began  the  day's  work 
of  loading  beaver-skins  or  tilling  the  ground  or 
hewing  timber.    A  pioneer  life  means  hard  work 
for  children  as  weU  as  for  their  elders,  and  in  the 
early  years  there  was  little  time  for  play  on  the 
part  of  the  youthful  New  Netherianders.     As 
prosperity  advanced  and  as  negro  servants  were 
introduced,  the  privileges  of  childhood  were  ex- 
tended and  we  find  accounts  of  their  sliding  on 
their  skes  or  sleds  down  the  hills  of  Fort  Orange 
and  skating  at  New  Amsterdam  on  the  Collect 
Pond,  which  took  its  name  from  the  Dutch  kalk, 
or  lime,  and  was  so  called  from  the  heaps  of  oyster- 
shells  accumulated  by  the  Indians.    The  skates 
were  of  the  type  used  in  Holland,  very  long  with 
curves  at  the  front  and  rear,  and,  when  metal 
could  not  be  obtained,  formed  of  ox-bone. 


\ 


>  it 


\ 


h    • 


118  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
With  an  appetite  bred  of  out-of^oor  work  and 
plajr,  and  a  breakfast  hour  at  five  or  six  in  the 
morning,  the  children  were  hungry  for  the  homely 
and  substantial  dinner  when  it  eventually  appeared 
atearlynoon.  Whatever  social  visits  were  planned 
took  place  at  the  supper,  which  occurred  between 
three  o'clock  and  six.  The  tea-table,  the  chron- 
icler tells  us, 

was  crowned  with  a  huge  earthen  dish,  weU  stated  with 
slices  ot  fat  pork  and  fried  trout,  cut  up  into  morsds 
and  smmmmg  in  gravy.  The  company,  bang  seated 
round  the  genial  board  and  each  furnished  with  a  fork 
evinoed  their  dexterity  in  h;^,ch  Jig  at  the  fattest  pieces 

m  this  mighty  dish  in  much  the  same  manner  as  sailors 
hsrpoon  porpoises  at  sea,  or  our  Indians  apear  sahnon 
m  the  lakes. 

Sometimes  the  teble  was  graced  with  immense  apple 
pies,  or  saucers  full  of  preserved  peaches  or  pears;  but  it 
was  always  sure  to  boast  an  enormous  dish  of  balls  of 
sweetened  dough,  fried  in  hog's  fat  and  caUed  dough- 
nuts or  olykoelu.  ...  The  tea  was  served  out  of  a 
majestic  Delft  tea-pot  ornamented  with  paintings  of  fat 
htUe  Dutch  shepherds  and  shepherdesses  tending  pigs, 
with  boats  sailing  in  the  air  and  houses  built  in  the 
clouds.  .  .  .  To  sweeten  the  beverage  a  lump  of  sugar 
w  laid  beside  each  cup  and  the  company  alternately 
nibbled  and  sipped  with  great  decorum. 

In  the  houses  of  the  richer  colonists,  as  piosperity 
advanced,  shell-shaped  silver  boxes  for  sugar,  called 


THE  BURGHERS  iw 

"bite  and  rtip"  boxes,  were  set  on  the  Ubie  and. 
according  to  one  authority,  the  lumps  of  sugar 
were  of  the  nature  of  toffy  with  molasses  added  to 
the  sugar. 

The  feast  ended,  the  young  folk  went  their 
homeward  way  lighted  by  the  moon,  or,  late  in  the 
century,  on  dark  nights  by  a  lantern  hung  on  a 
pole  from  every  seventh  house.  When  the  curfew 
rang  from  the  belfry  "eight  o'clock,"  lights  were 
put  out  lad  all  was  made  fast  for  the  night,  while 
the  children's  minds  were  set  at  rest  by  the  tran«p 
of  the  klopperman,  who  shook  his  rattle  at  each 
door  as  he  passed  from  house  to  house  through  the 
dark  hours,  assuring  the  burghers  that  all  was  well 
and  that  no  marauders  were  about. 

If  winter  offered  sports  and  pastimes,  spring, 
summer,  and  autumn  had  each  its  own  pleasures, 
fishing  and  clam  digging,  shooting  and  trr  .ping, 
games  with  ball  and  slings,  berry  picking,  and  the 
gathering  of  peac'-  -s  which  fell  so  thickly  that  the 
vei;.' hogs  refused  -n.  The  market  days  in  New 
Amsterdam  offered  a  long  procession  of  delights 
to  the  young  colonists.  But  merriest  of  all  were 
the  holidays  which  were  observed  in  New  Ni^er- 
land  after  much  the  same  fashion  as  in  the  old 
home. 


M 


■,r\ 

A  ,1 

V 


4,   !. 

^1*     ■ 


H 


li 


114  DDTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
I  do  not  know  how  to  account  for  the  fact  that 
whae  the  struggle  of  the  Dutch  people  with  the 
Papacy  had  been  as  bitter  as  that  of  England  and 
the  throwing  off  of  the  yoke  by  the  Dutch  fully  as 
decided,  they  still  retained  the  holidays  which  the 
Puritans  eschewed  as  dangerous  remnants  of  super- 
stition.  Perhaps  it  was  on  the  principle  of  robbing 
Satan  of  his  hoofs  and  horns  but  keeping  his  cheer- 
ftJ  scarlet  costume,  or  perhaps  they  thought,  as 
Rowland  Hill  remarked,  that  "it  was  poor  policy 
to  leave  all  the  good  times  to  the  Devil."    In  any 
case  it  was  all  grist  to  the  children's  mill. 

On  the  1st  of  January  all  was  arranged  for  the 
greeting  of  the  New  Year.  Mighty  bowls  of  punch 
were  brewed,  cordials  prqiared  from  long-cherished 
family  recipes  were  brought  out.  and  the  women,  in 
their  best  apparel,  seated  themselves  in  the  seldom- 
used  ontvangkanur,  where  wine  was  handed  to 
their  callers  to  be  received  with  the  wish  of  a 
"Happy  New  Year!"  While  these  stately  cere- 
monies  were  in  progress  the  young  people  amused 
themselves  with  turkey-shooting,  sleigh-riding, 
skating,  and  dancing. 

After  New  Year's  Day  the  most  characteristic 
national  and  local  hohday  was  Pinkster,  coming 
in  the  seventh  week  after  Paatch,  or  Easter,  and 


THE  BDBGHEBS  115 

falling  generally  in  late  May  or  early  June.    The 
orchards  were  then  white  with  blossoms  and  the 
grass  thick  with  dandelions  and  spring  flowers. 
Children  set  out  early  to  gather  boughs  from  the 
greenwoods.    These  boughs  they  sprinkled  with 
water  and  left  over  the  doors  of  late  sleepers  that 
the  sluggards  might  be  drenched  on  opening  the 
door.   At  first  all  was  innocent  merriment,  gather- 
ing of  Pinkster  flowers,  and  picnicking;  but  for 
some  unexplained  reason  this  festival  was  gradually 
relegated  to  the  negroes.    Apple-jack  was  freely 
consumed,  barbaric  dances  began,  and  fun  so  far 
d^enerated  into  Mcense  that  the  white  people  and 
their  children  shunned  the  festivity. 

The  Kermit.  an  Old  World  festival,  was  one  of 
those  early  introduced  at  New  Amsterdam.    It 
originated  centuries  before  and  had  taken  its  name 
from  the  kerk  mis  or  church  mass.    In  the  olden 
days  it  was  celebrated  with  pomp  and  solemnity, 
but  it  early  developed  a  more  festive  character.' 
Booths  and  stalls  were  erected  for  a  market,  and 
dances  and  processions  were  organized.    The  first 
stroke  of  the  clock  at  noon  opened  at  the  same 
moment  the  market  and  the  first  dance.     The  last 
stroke  saw  white  crosses  nailed  on  all  the  bridges 
across  the  canal  and  on  the  market  place.    It  was 


'^r}^ 


'flitl 


n«  DUTCH  AND  ENGU8H  ON  THE  HUDSON 
indeed  a  fertive  appearance  that  the  market  pre- 
sented,  with  ita  double  stall*  fiUed  with  egg*  and 
gherldn*.  it*  booth*  hung  with  dried  fiah,  iU  fogtrl- 
jethraam  di*pen*ing  the  tempting  batteMsake*. 
and  it*  wifeUcraamen  offering  the  more  costly 
and  aristocratic  waffle*.   The  youths  and  maidens 
were  given  full  license  to  parade  arm  in  arm  along 
the  streets  singing  "Hossen,  hossen.  hosseni"  and 
making  the  town  ring  with  their  mirth  and  laugh- 
ter.   The  first  Kerm.i»  held  at  New  Amsterdam 
was  in  October,   1669.     Booths  were  arranged 
on  the  parade  ground,  and  barter  and  sale  and 
nxwymaking  went  on  gaily  for  six  weeks,  to 
the  unspeakable  joy  of  the  little  Hendricks  and 
Jans  and  Annetjes  who  wandered  from  booth  to 
booth. 

But  keen  as  the  delight  of  the  Dutch  children 
n«ax  have  been,  there  was  in  their  minds  the  hope 
of  even  better  things  to  come  a  few  weeks  later, 
at  their  own  especial,  particular,  undisputed  feast 
of  St.  Nicholas,  the  beloved  SanU  Claus.  patron 
saint  of  children  in  general  and  of  young  Nether- 
landers  in  particular.  The  6th  of  December  was 
the  day  dedicated  to  this  genial  benefactor,  and 
on  the  eventful  night  a  white  sheet  was  spread  on 
the  floor.    Around  this  stood  the  children  singing 


THE  BDBGHEBS  117 

•ongi  of  wdcome,  of  which  the  mort  popuUr  wu 
the  familiar 

Sunt  Nicholaes,  goed  heiljg  mm, 
Twkt  uw-berten  Ubbanl  aan. 
En  reirt  daamee  naar  Anutetdam, 
Von  AuMterdam  naar  Spanje. 

»t>»eS«int  would  ride  forth  thus  accoutered  and 
if  he  would  do  what  they  asked  of  him,  theduldren 
exphuned  that  they  would  be  his  good  friends,  as 
for  that  matter  they  always  had  been,  and  would 
««ve  him  88  long  as  they  lived.   At  last  the  fateful 
moment  arrived.    A  shower  of  sweets  was  hurled 
through  the  open  door  and  amid  the  general 
"cwunble  appeared  the  Saint  in  full  vestments 
attended  by  a  servant  known  as  Knecht  Ruprecht 
und.  after  the  Dutch  setUementa  in  America   a 
bkck  man,  who  added  much  to  the  fascination  wd 
eidtement  of  the  occasion.    He  held  in  one  hand 
an  open  sack  into  which  to  put  particukrly  ill- 
behaved  children,  while  in  the  other  hand  he 
carried  a  bunch  of  rods,  which  he  shook  vigorously 
from  time  to  time.    The  good  Saint  meanwhile 
smilingly  distributed  to  the  children  the  parceb 
that  he  had  brought,  and.  af  tw  these  had  all  been 
opened  and  the  presents  had  been  suiBciently 


•ll. 


m 


f 


■i)  1     if*.l 


> 


^f-^i 


w 


I 


118  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
•dmiied,  the  children  dropped  into  their  tnindle- 
beda  to  dreun  of  all  the  gkwiei  of  the  day. 

Wheo  the  dtui-iheet  and  litter  of  wriq>pin9  had 
be«i  ronoved,  the  dder  people  gathered  around  a 
table  spread  with  a  white  cloth  and  set  out  with 
chocolate  punch  and  a  dish  of  steaming  hot  dieit- 
nnts,  while  the  ineviuble  pipe,  ornamented  with  a 
head  of  St  Nicholas,  made  ito  appearance  and  the 
evening  ended  with  dancing  and  song  in  honor  of 
the  "goed  hdlig  man." 

Besides  these  stated  anniversaries,  home  life  had 
its  more  intimate  festivities  such  as  those  celebrat- 
ing the  birth  of  a  child,  whose  christening  was  made 
quite  a  solemn  event.  Every  church  owned  its 
dMp-beekm  or  dipping  bowl  from  which  the  water 
was  taken  to  be  dropped  on  the  baby's  head.  One 
beautiful  bowl  of  silver  dating  from  the  year  1695 
is  still  in  «i8tence  in  a  New  York  church.  About 
a  week  after  the  birth  of  the  little  New  Nether- 
lander, the  neighbors  wero  summoned  to  rejoice 
with  the  proud  father  and  mother.  In  the  early 
days  of  the  colony  and  in  the  farming  region,  these 
gatherings  were  as  rude  and  simple  as  they  were 
under  similar  conditions  in  HoUand.  The  men 
were  invited  at  noon  to  partake  of  a  long  pipe  and 
a  bottle  of  gin  and  bitters.    The  wome    arrived 


THE  BUBGHEK8  ng 

l<»Ur  to  find  ipw^l  for  thdf  entwuinnient  did« 
of  nuk.  vw«l  with  •ni.eed  and  known  «  ««««, 
or  mice.  .ccompMiied  by  eggnog.  A.  ^naety 
grewmorewphirtictrfintliecokmy.  tlwerimpfc 
gathenng.  gave  pl.ce  to  the  ehAonrte  c«,dle 
pwfae.,  where  the  caudle  wa.  «rved  in  «lv« 
bowl,  hung  dwut  with  .poon.  that  each  guct 
m«ht  L«fle  out  for  him^lf  into  a  chin,  cup  the 
ndi  compound  of  lemony  raiain.,  «,d  n)iced  wine. 
It  M  evident  that  there  wm  no  lack  of  nuterial 

good  cheer  among  tiiecolonirt.ofNewNetherIand 
^d  we  may  be  sure  that  the  hoyB  and  girl,  .ecured 
their  diare  of  substantial,  and  dainties.  I  fear 
thqr  were  nither  rough  and  rude,  thew  young 
bu,gh«s.  for  all  the  reports  wUch  we  have  of  them 
dow  them  always  in  conflict  with  kw  and  order 
The  boy,  en>ed.lly,  owing  to  deficient  schooling 
f«nhties.  were  quite  out  of  hand.  They  set  dogs 
upon  the  night  watchman  at  New  Amsterdam  and 
touted  "Indies!"  to  frighten  him  in  his  rounds. 

lley  tore  the  clothes  from  each  other's  backs  in 
the  «Aoolroom  where  the  unfortunate  master  was 
stnvmg  to  keep  order.  In  Fort  Orange  sliding 
became  so  fast  and  furious  that  the  legislatow  were 
obhged  to  threaten  the  confiscation  of  the  tleet 
and  It  was  no  doubt  with  a  keen  realization  of  the 


.'Wl 


It  ■ 


■f 


ir 


'■i 


!/' 


ir 


ItO  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THB  HUDSON 
behavior  of  their  offq>riiig  that  the  inhabituti  of 
Hatbtuh  iiuerted  theM  wonb  in  the  Mtides  of 
agreement  with  the  new  whoolinaHer:  "He  ihall 
demeM  hinueV  patient  and  friendly  towaidi 
the  children  and  be  acUve  and  attentive  to  their 
improvement" 

However  UtUe  learning  fn»n  book*  entered  into 
the  Uvea  of  the  young  cokmiatt.  much  that  wat 
•timulating  to  the  imagination  came  to  them  by 
word  of  mouth  from  the  wildm.  from  the  negroes, 
and  from  their  elders  as  they  sat  about  the  bladng 
fireinthetwili^t,orjc»*i»i«f/iBA<.   Then  the  tales 
were  toW  of  phantom  ship*,  of  ghosto  walking  on 
the  cliffs  of  the  Highlands,  and  of  the  unlucky 
wight  who  found  his  death  in  the  river  where  he 
had  sworn  to  phinge  in  spite  of  the  Devil,  a  spot 
which  still  bears  the  name  of  Spuyten  Duyvil  in 
memory  of  the  rash  boast. 

We  iray  find  it  hard  to  reconcile  the  rq>uUtkm 
of  the  Dutch  as  a  phlegmatic  and  unimaginative 
pec^le  with  the  fact  that  they  and  their  chiWren 
endowed  the  Hudson  with  more  glamour,  more  of 
the  supernatural  and  of  elfin  lore  than  haunts  any 
other  waterway  in  America.  Does  the  explana- 
tion perhaps  lie  in  the  fact  that  the  Dutch  colonists, 
coming  from  a  small  country  situated  on  a  level 


THE  BDBGfflERS  m 

PWb  wlwe  th.  l«Kb«pe  w«  open  «  f „  „  tlw 
l^oouM  .ee.  «Kl  Wt  no  «K«.  for  «yrt«y.  ,„ 
wddenJy  t»«,p|.nted  to  •  «g,on  .hut  in  brtw^n 
owrhMguig  cKff.  where  lightning  fl«hed  ^ 
thunder  rolled  from  mount«n  wall  to  mountidn 
wril.  wh«e  thick  fore.ta  objured  the  view,  wd 
•teMige  aborigin.!  «iv.ge.  hid  in  the  underbnuh? 
W«.  It  not  the  .enae  of  wonder  .pringing  from  thi. 
Cwnge  in  their  accurtomed  .urrounding.  that 
peopled  the  dim  depth,  of  the  hinterland  with 
^  of  elf  and  goblin,  of  demon,  and  wper- 
Human  prewnces? 

At  any  rate  the  .pirit  of  my.tery  lurked  on  the 
outdurt.  of  the  Dutch  .ettlemenU.  and  the  youth- 
M  burgher,  along  the  Hud«m  were  fed  full  on 
Ule^  mo.tly  of  a  terrifying  nature,  drawn  from 
the  foDclore  of  three  race^  the  Dutch,  the  Indi«« 
and  tlxe  African.,  with  «,me  few  .tmnd.  inter- 
woven from  local  legend  and  twdition  that  had 
•Jready  grown  up  along  the  bank,  of  the  Ku  J-.>n 

It  was  a  .imple  but  by  no  mean,  a  pitiable  iife 
that  was  led  in  tho«5  day.  by  burghew  and  f  arme« 
ahke  on  the  shore,  of  thi.  great  river.  Never  doe. 
the  erteemed  Diedrich  Knickerbocker  come  nearer 
the  troth  than  when  he  says:  "Happy  would  it 
have  been  for  New  Amsterdam  could  it  always 


1,^ 


•   t;' 


'  I  •'I 


M 


188  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
have  existed  in  this  rtate  of  bbWuI  ignorance  and 
lowly  simpKoity;  but  alas!  the  days  of  childiood 
are  too  sweet  to  bist.  Cities,  like  men,  grow  out 
of  tbem  in  time  and  are  doomed  alike  to  grow  into 
the  bustle,  the  care*  and  the  miseries  of  the  world." 


CHAPTER  Vn 

THB   NBIOHBOB8  OF  NKW  NKTHEMAND 

Machiaveuj  observed  that  to  the  wise  ruler  only 
two  courses  were  open  -  to  conciliate  or  to  crush. 
The  histoo^  of  the  Dutch  in  America  illustmtes  by 
apphcation  the  truth  of  this  view.    The  settlers  at 
Fort  Orange  conciliated  the  Indians  and  by  this 
means  not  only  Kved  in  peace  with  the  native 
tribes  but  estabhshed  a  bulwark  between  them- 
««hres  and  the  French.     Under  Stuyvesant  the 
setUe«  at  Port  Amsterdam  took  a  determined 
stand  against  the  Swedes  and  crushed  their  power 
m  America.    Toward  the  English,  however,  the 
Duteh  adopted  a  course  of  feeble  aggression  un- 
backed by  fo«».    Because  they  met  English  en- 
croachments with  that  most  fatal  of  »U  policies 
protest  without  action,  the  Empire  of  the  United 
N  etherlands  in  America  was  blotted  from  the  map 

The  neighbors  of  the  Dutch  in  America  were  the 
Indians,  the  French,  the  Swedes,  and  the  Enghsh 


'^1 


''7 


Mt,, 


i.^ 


■11 


■J 


nij 


m  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
The  earliest,  most  intimate,  and  most  continuous 
relations  of  the  Dutch  settlers  were  with  the  In- 
diaas.    These  people  were  divided  into  a  number 
of  independent  tribes  or  nations.    The  vaUey  of 
the  North  River  was  shared  by  the  Mohawks,  who 
inhabited  the  region  along  the  west  side  of  its 
upper  waters,  and  the  Mohegans,  or  Mahicans,  as 
the  Dutch  called  them,  who  lived  on  either  side  of 
the  banks  of  its  lower  reaches,  with  various  smaller 
tribes   scattered   between.     The   warlike   Man- 
hattans occupied  the  island  called  by  their  name 
while  the  Mohegans  raised  their  wigwams  also  on 
the  eastern  shore  of  the  upper  river  opposite  the 
Mohawks,  and  ranged  over  the  hmd  reaching  to 
the  Connecticut  River. 

/  TheMohawks,withtheOneidas,theOnondagas 
/U.e  Cayugas,  and  the  Senecas,  formed  the  famous 
Rve  Nations,  generally  known  as  the  Iroquois. 
Then-  territory  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Lake 
Ontario  and  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  on  the  east 
by  Lake  Champlain  and  the  North  River,  on  the 
west  by  Lake  Erie  and  the  Niagara  River,  and  on 
the  south  by  the  region  occupied  by  the  Lenni 
Lenape,  or  Delaware  tribes.  But  their  power 
extended  far  beyond  these  limits  over  dependent 
tribes.    They  were  in  a  constant  sUte  of  warfare 


NEIGHBORS  OF  NEW  NETHERLAND  m 
with  their  Algonquin  neighbors  on  the  north  and 
e««t,  who  hiid  been  enabled  to  offer  a  formidable 

bTT^r'^"-'"'^'™'''-^^'^"'- 
Wh«.  therefore,  the  wUte  men  appeared  among 

wh,<A  had  been  uaed  with  such  dire  effect  against 
the  IroquoB  by  the  Algonquins.  the  Mohawks 
«««erly  sought  the  friendship  of  the  newcomer., 
hopmg  to  secur.  the  same  power  which  had  made 
their  enemies  triumphant.  The  Dutch  were  in- 
telhgeait  enough  to  make  instant  use  of  these 
fnendly  sentiments  on  the  part  of  the  natives  ^d 
hwtened  to  make  a  treaty  with  the  I„K,uois.  tue 
Mohegans.  and  the  Lenni  Lenapes. 

■IW*  treaty,  which  is  said  to  have  been  signed 
on  Ihebanfcof  Norman's  Kfll  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Alb^.  was  concluded  with  .11  formalities. 
Jiachtnbe  was  represented  by  iU  chief.    The  calu- 
met wm  smoked,  the  hatchet  was  buried,  and 
everlasting  friendship  was  sworn  between  the  old 
mhabitantsandthenew.    By  this  agreement  the 
Dutch  secured  not  only  peace  with  the  neighboring 
Indians -a  peace  never  broken  in  the  -orth 
whatever  broils  disturbed  the  lower  waters  of  the' 
nver-but  at  the  same  time  a  guard  between 


m 


i  :  J  I 


186  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
them  and  any  encroachment  of  tt.e  French  and 
Algonquins  in  Canada. 

On  the  other  boundaries  and  outskirts  of  their 
possessions,  the  Dutch  were  les,  fortunate.  They 
had  always  claimed  all  the  territoiy  from  the  South 
or  Delaware  River  to  the  Fresh  or  Connecticut 
River,  but  their  pretensions  were  early  chaUenged 
by  the  English  on  the  ground  of  prior  discovefy 
and  by  the  Swedes  on  the  argument  of  non-occu- 
pation  of  the  land. 

The  reports  of  the  wealth  to  be  acquired  from 
the  fur  trade  had  quickly  spread  from  Holknd  to 
Sweden,  and  as  early  as  1684.  Gustavus  Adolphus 
encouraged  by  William  Usselinx,  a  Dutchman  and 
promoter  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  was 
planning  wtpeditions  to  the  New  World.    But  the 
entrance  of  Sweden  into  the  Thirty  Years'  War 
in  1630  put  a  stop  to  iLis  plan,  and  the  funds  were 
applied  to  war  purposes.    Gustavus  Adolphus  fdl 
at  Lutzen  in  1682.  leaving  the  kingdom  to  his  little 
daughter  Christina.    Her  Government  was  con- 
ducted by  Oxenstiem,  a  statesman  trained  in  the 
great  traditions  of  Gustavus,  who  felt  with  him 
that  an  American  colony  would  be  "the  jewel  of 
his  kingdom."    An  instrument  for  his  purpose 
presented  itself  in  Peter  Minuit.  who  had  returned 


NEIGHBORS  OP  NEW  NETHERLAND  187 
to  Holland  in  16S8,  smarting  under  his  dismissal  as 
Director  of  New  Netherland.  He  oflfeied  his  ser- 
vices to  Sweden  for  the  establishment  of  a  new 
colony,  and  they  were  accepted.  In  the  opening 
of  1688,  he  arrived  in  what  is  now  Delaware  Bay 
with  two  ships,  the  CMjEHn  and  the  Key  ofKalmar. 
From  the  Indians  he  bought  large  tracts  of  hind 
in  what  is  now  the  State  of  Delaware,  and  ou  the 
site  of  the  present  city  of  Wihnington  he  phmted 
a  fort  named  Christina. 

When  news  was  brought  to  Kieft  that  Minuit 
had  sailed  up  the  South  River  and  planned  to  raise 
the  Swedish  flag  on  a  fort  upon  its  shores,  the 
Director  promptly  dispatched  the  foUowing  letter: 

I.  Willem  Kieft,  Director-General  of  New  Netherland, 
residing  m  the  island  of  Manhattan,  in  the  Fort  Am- 
sterdam, under  the  government  of  the  High  and  Mighty 
States-General  of  the  United  Netherlands  and  the  W«t 
India  Company,  privUeged  by  the  Senate  Chamber  m 
Amsterdam,  make  known  to  thee.  Peter  Minuit,  who 
stylrat  thyself  commander  in  the  service  of  Her  Majesty 
Uie  Queen  of  Sweden,  that  the  whole  South  River  of 
New  Netherland.  both  upper  and  lower,  has  been  our 
propwty  for  many  years,  occupied  with  our  forts,  and 
sealed  by  our  blood,  which  also  was  done  when  thou 
wast  m  the  service  of  New  Netherland.  and  is  therefore 
wdl  known  to  thee.  But  as  thou  art  come  between  our 
forts  to  erect  a  fort  to  our  damage  and  injuiy,  which  we 


m 

-  -Wl 


m 

f       it     : 


■I  1- 


1*8  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
Jill  nevw  permit,  m  we  abo  beUeve  Her  Swedbh 
M«jerty  hath  not  empowered  thee  to  erect  fortificatknu 
on  our  coMU  and  rivers,  or  to  setUe  people  on  the  lu>d< 
joimng  or  to  undertake  any  other  thing  to  our 
tpn^udioe;  now  therefore  we  protest  agaiiut  all  tudi 
encroadmienU  and  aU  the  evil  consequences  from  the 
••me,  as  bloodshed,  sedition  and  whatever  injury  our 
tnOmg  company  may  suffer,  and  dedare  that  we  shall 
protect  our  ri^ta  in  every  manner  that  may  he  advio- 
able. 


This  blustering  protest  Mmuit  treated  with  con- 
tempt and  continued  building  his  fort.  The  Swed- 
ish colony  soon  grew  so  rapidly  as  to  be  a  serious 
menace  to  the  Dutch  in  spite  of  their  stronger 
fortifications. 

In  1642  Joban  Printz,  a  lieutenant-colonel  of 
cavahy,  was  sent  over  as  Governor  of  New  Sweden 
with  instructions  to  maintain  friendly  relations 
with  the  Dutch,  but  to  yield  no  foot  of  ground. 
He  estabh'shed  several  other  settlements  on  the 
South  or  Delaware  River.  So  tactlessly,  however, 
did  he  perform  his  duties,  that  conflicts  with  the 
Dutch  grew  more  and  more  fi«quent.  He  built 
two  forte  on  opposite  sides  of  the  river  and  ordered 
that  every  ship  entering  the  waters  should  strike 
her  colors  and  await  permission  to  pass.  The  first 
vessel  on  which  the  new  orders  were  tried  carried 


NEIGHBOBS  OP  NEW  NEIHEBLAND  l» 
«.pa«enger David deVri«.  The dcippe, adced 
lu-i^yice  .bout  lowering  hi.  eolo«.  "?it7^ 
•"^  '^''  ^^  Vrie.  ««ru  that  he  ^^J^Tj 
would  not  lower  to  the«.i„t™de«."    BuJ^J 

^^^Tl!^\""^''*^"''*''NewGottenbC 
the«p.ulofthecolony.  He^DeVrieswa,^ 
co^by  Gov«.or  Print.,  whon.  the  tr^v^ 
de^Tibe,  «  "a  brave  m«.  of  brave  aize."    He 

'nne.    Sudi  faendly  intercou«e  and  the  aggres- 

Sw^e,led  to  the  temporal  allianceofthe«>,atter 
m    Ml     InAan.  called  in  council  confirmed  the 

^Ij^hfUetoaU  lands  except  the«te  of  theJwS! 
^ort  P,^  b,  Minui,  and  a  peace  wis. 

dZ  '"' ^/«^'  was  declared  between  the 
IJutch  and  the  Swedes. 

In  endeavoring  to  understand  the  «Ution,  be- 
tween the  settlements  of  the  different  nations! 
Ainenca  m  the  seventeenth  centmy  we  must 
-^  tut  the  «.lonies  were  onty^^'iTr 
^  game  bemg  played  in  Europe  between  Sp«n 
»nd  the  Pap«y  on  the  one  hand  and  the  fto^ 
t«t  countaes.  England.  Sweden,  and  the  Umted 
Netherlands  on  the  other.     Once  apprehendi^ 


'*h 


> . 
4-' 


r 


M 


1 1 


180  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HtJDSON 
thia,  we  can  eanly  understand  why  the  governor 
of  each  colony,  though  instructed  to  seize  and  hold 
every  foot  of  land  which  could  be  occupied,  was 
advised  not  to  antagonize  the  other  friendly 
nations  and  thus  weaken  the  alliance  against 
the  common  enemy.  As  the  power  of  Spain  de- 
clined, however,  and  the  estimate  of  the  value  of 
the  American  colonies  increased,  the  friction  in 
the  New  World  became  more  acute  and  the 
instructions  from  the  Lome  governments  grew 
imperative. 

Affairs  then  came  to  an  open  rupture  between 
New  Netherland  and  New  Sweden.   In  1651  Gov- 
ernor Stuyvesant  inaugurated  a  more  aggressive 
policy  against  the  Swedes  by  building  Fort  Casimir 
near  what  is  now  New  Castle,  Delaware,  not  far 
from  the  Swedish  fort.    Three  years  later  Fort 
Casimir  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Swedes.    The 
Dutch  r;overDment  now  commanded  Stuyvesant 
to  drive  the  Swedes  from  the  river  or  compel  their 
submission.    As  a  result  the  Director  and  his  fleet 
sailed  into  the  Delaware  in  September,  1655,  and 
captured  one  fort  after  another,  till  Rysing,  the 
last  of  the  Swedish  governors,  was  completely 
defeated.     Though  the  colonists  were  promised 
security  in  possession  of  their  lands,  the  power  of 


h 


NEIGHBORS  OF  NEW  NBTHEBLAND  isi 
New  Sweden  wa.  ended,  and  the  jurfadiction  of  the 
Dutch  was  for  a  time  establiahed. 

New  Netherland  had.  however,  other  neighbon 
more  powerful,  more  persistent,  and  with  more  at 

rtake  than  theFrench.  the  Indians,  «,d  the  Swede.. 
Theje  were  the  English  colonists,  pressing  north- 
ward from   the  Virginias  and   southward  from 
New  England.    JVom  the  beginning  of  the  Dutch 
colonization.  England  had  looked  askance  at  the 
wedge  thus  driven  between  her  own  settlements. 
She  had   stubbornly   refused   to  m»gni*e   the 
80ver«gnty  of  the  States-General  in  the  region  of 
New  Netherland  while  at  the  same  time  she  vainly 
wught  a  pretext  for  the  establishment  of  her  own 
England  put  forward  the  apocryphal  claim  of  dis- 
covery by  Cabot;  but  here  she  was  stopped  by  the 
doctrine  announced  in  a  previous  century  that  in 

order  to  give  title  toanewcountry.discovery  must 
be  foBowed  by  occupation.  When  EngUnd  main- 
tained that,  since  Hudson  was  an  Englishman 
the  title  to  his  discovery  must  pass  to  Us  native 
land,  she  was  reminded  that  Cabot  was  a  Genoese 
and  that  Genoa  might  as  well  claim  title  to  Vir-* 
ginia  as  England  to  New  Netherland. 

The  Plymouth  Company  particukrly  was  con- 
cerned at  the  Dutch  occupation  of  this  middle 


i 


(> 


f  .1 


IM  DOTCH  AND  ENGU8H  ON  THE  HUDSON 
region  to  which  thech«tergr«ted  by  King  J«ne. 
g.ve  ,t  a  claim.  It /omlly  p^^^^  ^^^ 
C]  these  "Dutch  intrude™."  Whereupon 
Kng  Janie.  I  directed  Sir  Dudley  Crleton.  W. 

Duteh  «,tUement.;  but  nothing  wa.  accompMed. 
both  part.e«  having  their  hand,  too  full  with  Euro- 
pean  quarrel,  to  cany  the«>  tranaatlantic  matten, 
toertrenutie,.  The  tension,  however,  wa.  con- 
stantly ,„creai«d  on  both  «de.  by  a  «„„  of  en- 
croachments and  provocations. 

In  April.  1683.  for  example,  the  .hip  WiUiam 
jmved  at  Fort  AmsteHam  under  coL«.d^ 
Capu.n  Trevor  with  Jacob  Eelkens  a.  super- 
c^.  Eelkens  had  been  dismi«ed  by  the  ^ 
^d.«  Company  f«„.  the  post  of  Commis««y  .t 
Fort  Orange,  and  was  now  in  the  «rvice  of  some 
ix.ndon  merchants,  in  whose  behalf  he  had  come 

"Don't  talk  to  me  of  Hemy  Hudson's  River!" 

nf^     *;;J:'""'  "'*  "^'^R^verMauntiu.'" 
He  then  called  for  the  commission  of  Eelkens.  who 
^fused  to  show  it.  saying  that  he  was  withi;  ^ 
^n,jmo„s  of  the  English  King,  and  a  servant  o 
H.S  Majesty,  and  asking  the  Dutch  Council  what 


':) 


i 


''2 

y       f 


>r 


) 


It.'' 


c?2;s:»*" 


[  in   ]»<il 


« <"<(  ni  ji^jJiiin'l 


'■'     '  "lIKiilltlll     ijf 


.f  ( 


iiriimis.s.-irv  u(. 


nfy 


on  Hi 


M'Kl 


son  <  r'r.-.-i  f 
"'til's.' 


m 


NEIGHBORS  OP  NEW  NETHERLAND  ISS 
commi»ion  they  thenwelvc  liad  to  plant  in  the 
English  dominion.  Whereupon  Van  TwiUer  re- 
pKed  that  it  was  not  fitting  that  Eelkena  should 
proceed  up  the  river,  as  the  whole  of  that  country 
bdonged  to  the  Prince  of  0,«,ge  and  not  to  the 
King  of  England. 

After  this  exchange  of  amenities,  Eelkens  re- 
turned to  his  sWp,  which  remained  at  anchor  for 
several  days.    At  the  end  of  the  Ume,  he  presented 
hiBMelf  again  at  the  fort  to  ask  if  the  Director 
would  consent  in  a  friendly  way  to  his  going  up  the 
nver;  otherwise,  he  would  proceed  if  it  cost  his 
Ue.     In  reply,  Van  Twiller  ordered  the  Dutch 
flag  to  be  run  up  at  the  fort  and  thi«e  pieces  of 
ordnance  fired  in  honor  of  the  Prince  of  Orange. 
Eelkens  on  his  part  ordered  the  English  flag  to  be 
hoisted  on  the  WiUiam  and  a  salute  fired  in  honor 
of  King  Charles.     Van  TViller  warned  Eelkens 
that  the  course  which  he  was  pursuing  might  cost, 
him  his  neck;  but  the  supercargo  wdgLed  anchor 
and  proceeded  cahnly  on  his  way. 
Van  Twiller  then  assembled  all  his  forces  before 

his  door,  brought  out  a  cask  of  wine,  filled  a  bu-nper, 
and  cried  out  that  those  who  loved  the  Prince  of 
Orange  and  him  should  follow  his  example  and 
protect  him  from  the  outrages  of  the  Englishman; 


I 


I 

ir'X 


m 


JH 


,\J 


> ' 


M 


134  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
Eelkens.  by  this  time,  was  out  <A  sight  sailing  up 
the  river.  The  people  drank,  but  only  laughed  at 
their  governor,  and  De  Vries  told  him  that  he  had 
been  very  foolish.  "Hit  weremy  aflfair,"hesaid, 
"I  would  have  helped  him  away  from  the  fort  with 
beans  from  the  eight-pounders." 

The  William,  meanwhile,  journeyed  up  the 
river  and  Eelkens,  who  knew  the  country  well, 
landed  with  his  crew  about  a  mile  below  Fort 
Orange  and  set  up  a  tent  where  he  displayed  the 
wares  wUch  he  hoped  to  exchange  with  the  natives 
for  beaver-skins.  Very  soon  reports  of  this  exploit 
reached  the  ears  of  the  commissary  at  Fort  Orange, 
who  at  once  embarked  with  a  trumpeter  on  a 
shaUop  decorated  with  green  boughs.  The  Dutch 
landed  close  beside  the  English  and  set  up  a  rival 
tent;  but  the  Indians  preferred  to  deal  with  Eel- 
kens, whom  they  had  known  years  before  and  who 
spoke  their  language. 

In  the  high  tide  of  success,  however,  Eelkens 
was  rudely  ordered  to  depart  by  a  Dutch  officer 
who  had  come  up  the  river  in  charge  of  three 
vessels,  a  pinnace,  a  caravel,  and  a  hoy.  To  en- 
force the  commands  came  soldiery  from  both 
Dutch  forts,  armed  witi  muskets,  half-pikes, 
swords,  and  other  weapons,  and  ordered  Eelkens' 


NEIGHBORS  OF  NEW  NETHEHLAND   ISA 

to  strike  his  flag.  They  pulled  down  the  tent,  sent 
the  goods  on  board  ship,  and  sounded  their  trum- 
pets in  the  boat  "in  disgrace  of  the  English  " 
The  Dutch  boarded  the  Wiaiam.  weighed  her 
anchor,  and  convoyed  her  down  the  river  with  their 
fleet,  and  finaUy  dismissed  her  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river. 

The  troubles  of  the  Dutch  with  their  English 
neighbors,  however,  did  not  end  with  these  aggres- 
sions on  the  Hudson  and  similar  acts  on  the  Dela- 
ware.   In  the  year  1614.  Adriaen  Block,  a  great 
navigator  whose  name  deserves  to  rank  with  that 
of  Hudson,  had  sailed  through  the  East  River,  and 
putting  boldly  across  Long  Island  Sound,  had  dis- 
covered the  Housatonic  and  Connecticut  rivers 
He  also  discovraed  and  gave  his  own  name  to 
Block  I  :and   and   explored   Narragansett  Bay, 
whence  h.      .  k  his  course  to  Cape  Cod.    These 
discoveries  reported  to  the  States-General  of  the 
United  Netherlands  caused  their  High  Mighti- 
nesses at  once  to  lay  claim  to  the  new  lands;  but 
before  they  could  secure  enough  colonists  to  occupy 
the  country,  resUeiis  pioneers  of  English  stock 
planted  towns  in  the  Connecticut  valley,  along  the 
Sound,  and  on  the  shore  of  Long  Ubnd.    These 
were    uncomfortable   neighbors   with   aggressive 


j..'  «■ ' 


f 


I 

i 


138  DtTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  -mE  HUDSON 
i»«m«.  which  quite  up.et  the  pWd  D„tch  of 
New  An«terd«n.  IneviUble  boiu.d«y  dimute. 
followed,  which  relied  no  ««urtment  untU.  in 
1650.  Stuyvewnt  went  to  Hartford  to  engwe  in 
.  conference  with  commiMionew  of  the  United 
Colonies  of  New  Enghuid. 

The  Director  b««an  a.  usual  with  bi»v«io;  but 
presently  he  con«a.ted  to  leave  the  question  of 

bound««.to«boardoffourarbitrato«.    Tbi, 

board  decided  that  the  boundary  between  the 

I)utch  and  English  possession,  diould  run  on  Long 

JUnd  from  Oyster  Bay  «,uth  to  the  AthmUc.  and 

that  on  the  nuunland  it  should  run  north  from 

GreenTnch  Bay.  but  never  approach  withm  ten 

miles  of  the  Hudson  River.    The  Dutch  in  New 

Netherland  were  amazed  and  disgusted  at  the  de- 

<as,on;  but  though  Stuyvesant  is  said  to  have 

exchumed  in  dramatic  fashion  that  he  had  been 

betrayed,  he  found  it  hopeless  to  struggle  against 

the  superior  force  arrayed  against  him. 


CHAPTER  Vm 

TBB  KABLT  BNOUSH  OOVEBNOBB 

Thu  English  Government  was  fortunate  in  its  fint 
reprewntetive  after  the  surrender  of  Stuyvesant. 
Colonel  Richard  Nicolls.  who  had  enfoitsed  the 

surrender  with  all  the  eneisy  of  asoldier,  afterward 
dispkyed  all  the  tact  and  wisdom  of  a  sUtesman 
It  IS  true  that  the  towns  and  forts  were  rechris- 
tened,  and  New  Amsterdam,  Fort  Amsterdam,  and 
Port  Orange  became  respectively  New  York,  Port 
James,  and  Albany  in  honor  of  the  King's  brother 
James,  Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  to  whom  J, 
Lord  Proprietor  the  new  English  province  was 
now  granted;  but  the  Dutch  were  not  intafewd 
with  in  their  homes,  their  holdings,  or  their  re- 
ligion, and  for  nearly  a  year  the  dty  government 
at  New  Amsterdam  went  on  as  of  old  under  the 
control  of  burgomasters,  tehepen*.  and  »chouU. 

In  the  following  year  Nicolls.  according  to  in- 
structions from  the  Duke  of  York,  abolished  "the 

1ST 


,,-n 


^ 


m 


I. 


188  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
fonn  of  government  late  in  practice. "  appointed  a 
mayor,  aldermen,  and  a  sheriff  to  rule  New  York, 
and  directed  the  new  officials  to  swear  aUegiance 
to  the  Duke  He  continued  the  commercial  right, 
rf  the  freeman  who  represented  the  buighew  of  the 
Dutch  period,  and  he  also  introduced  trial  by  jury 
which  placated  the  dweUers  at  New  York  and 
ak>ng  the  Hudson. 

On  Long  Island  and  in  Westchester  where  New 
Englanders  had  settled,  Nicolls  proceeded  with 
greater  vigor.    This  section  together  with  Staten 
Island  was  erected  into  the  district  of  Yorkshire 
where  "the  Duke's  Laws"  were  proclaimed  and 
the  machinery  of  English  county  government  was 
put  m  operation.    Witii  its  Uwee  ridings,  its  courts 
of  sessions,  and  its  court  of  assizes.  Yorkshire 
soon   had   an    unmistakable   English   character 
even  tiiough  Dutch  inhabitants  were  numerous  in 
western  Long  Island  and  in  Staten  Island.     The 
Duke's  Laws  were  compiled  mainly  from  the  laws 
<rf  the  New  England  colonies,  though  they  de- 
I>«»rted  in  many  particulars  from  New  England 
traditiomi.     In   the  Dutch   towns   schmda   and 
lehepms  gave  place  to  overseers  and  constables 
The  characteristic  form  of  town  government  in 
the  province  was  that  in  which  freeholders  elected 


THE  EARLY  ENGUSH  GOVERNORS  IW 
s  boMd  of  eight  overseers  and  a  constable  for  one 
year.  Little  by  litUe  English  law  and  English  ia- 
stitutions  were  to  crowd  out  Dutch  law  and  Dutch 
poKtical  insUtutions  in  the  conquered  province. 

By  his  wise  pohcy,  his  magnetic  personality,  his 
scholarly  tastes,  and  his  social  geniality,  Nicolls 
•eems  to  have  won  all  hearte.     Maverick,  his 
coUeague,  wrote  Lord  Arlington  that  it  wn  won- 
derful how  this  man  could  harmonize  things  in  a 
world  so  full  of  strife.    Entrusted  by  the  Duke  of 
York  with  practically  unlimited  power,  he  used  it 
with  the  utmost  discretion  and  for  the  good  of  the 
province.    When  he  resigned  his  post  after  four 
years  of  service.  New  York  was  deeply  regretful 
over  his  departure  and  CoraeKs  Steenwyck,  the 
Dutch  mayor  of  the  city,  gave  a  fareweU  banquet 
in  his  honor. 

His  successor.  Colonel  Francis  Lovelace,  was  a 
favorite  at  court  and  a  gallant  cavalier  who  had 
been  loyal  to  the  King  throughout  his  adversity. 
With  far  less  abihty  than  Nicolls,  Lovelace  was 
at  one  with  him  in  desire  to  benefit  and  unify  the 
colony.  He  established  a  club  where  English, 
French,  and  Dutch  were  spoken,  and  he  offered 
prizes  to  be  run  for  on  the  Long  Island  race^wurse. 
Under  his  rule  shipping  increased  and  trade  flour- 


3 


fM 


i«  DDTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  TOE  HUDSON 

Ju.  laying  the  foundation,  of  The  MeS 
Exchange.  But  hi.  mort  notable  achievement 
wa.  the  «tabhd.ment  of  th.  fim  nuul  «,vice  on 
tne  American  continent 

Ji^ite  of  M  the  Ma  comme«*  «,d  trading  up 
"d  down  the  river  by  .Joop..  pink.,  flyboat.. 
ketche..  Md  canoe.,  the  colonic,  of  Nev  .  ork  and 
NewEnglanddemandedwrifterandmore^    ,uent 
mean,  of  communication,  and  Governor  i  -dace 
b«g«.  to  condder  how  the  bond,  could  »  e  drawn 
doaer    In  1671  one  John  A«her  bought  part  of 
Van  der  Donck'.  old  ertate  «,d  built  a  viDage 
new  unto  the  pa«age  commonly  called  Spiting 
Devd    on"theroadforpa«enge«togoto«nd 
fro  from  the  main  a.  well  a.  for  mutual  intercour* 
withtheneighboringcolony."  Lovelace  consented 
to  make  the  village  an  enfranchiwd  town  by  the 
name  of  Fordham  Manor,  provided  it.  inhabit«,ts 
AouW  forward  to  the  nert  town  all  public  p«iet. 
and  letters  coming  to  or  going  from  New  York. 
The  scheme  evidenUy  proved  a  .uccew.  for  Love- 
lace  shortly  decided  on  a  wider  extem.ion  of  com- 
munication, and  the  year  1673  was  celebrated  by 
the  Mtting  out  of  the  first  post  between  New  York 
and  New  England.   It  was  to  have  started  on  New 


THE  EARLY  BV6USH  GOVEBNOBS    141 
Ws  Dv.  but  wu  detayed  by  waiting  tot  newt 
ftomAlb«v.    On  the  Mriv J  of  communictkau 
from  Albany  the  carrier  wa*  iwoni  into  office 
•Mtnwted  "to  behave  dvily,"  to  inquire  of  the 
New  England  authorities  as  to  the  bert  post-road 
•nd  to  mark  it  for  the  benefit  of  other  travelen 
TJe  message  which  Lovelace  sent  to  Governor 
Wmthrop  of  Massachusetts  on  this  occasion  ran 
as  follows: 

Utertmtelhgence  I  could  meet  withal.^  Port.   bJ 
the  firrt.  you  wiU  «e  what  ha.  been  «rted  on  the  rtsn 
of  Europe;  by  the  latter  you  will  meet  with  a  montUy 
fred,  wpply;  »  that  if  it  receive  but  the  «une  ardort 
uichnation.  from  you  a.  at  firrt  it  hath  from  myself,  by 
our  montWy  advi«.  M  publique  occurrenc^'  Z 
tran«mtted  between  us.  together  with  «>ve,all  oth« 
gr«jt  convemencys  of  pubUque  importance.  conK,nant 
to  the  commands  Uid  upon  us  by  His  sacred  Majertie. 
who  stnctly  injoin.  aU  his  American  subject,  to  S 
mto  a  cloM  correspondency  with  each  other.    This  1 
look  upon  as  the  most  compendious  means  to  beget  a 
mutual  understanding:  ^d  that  it  may  «ceive1Su» 
countenance  from  you  far  iu  future  duration.  I  shaU 
acquamt  you  with  the  model  I  have  proposed;  andtf 

or  any  other  alteration.  I  shall  be  ready  to  comply  with 
you.  Thw  person  that  has  undertaken  the  imployment 
I  conceaved  most  proper,  bemg  both  active,  rtout.  and 


r."i 


U»  DCTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  IBE  HUDSON 

fajW.tig.bl..   Hel.«ronieMtohl.fldelity    Ih.v. 

OM  b*.  AD  the  letten  outwwd  duU  b«  deK wrri  J«Su 
with  •  Mgnifiction  of  Po*  Pa«f™r»fc!       ^  "?*" 

w^Lrthni^fr  New  S2  s 

By  tor«I.  «ad.  and  waterway  the  coIoni,te  were 
thus  drawu«  nearer  to  each  other  and  steadily 
increasing  their  facilities  for  trade,  when  all  w« 
mtem^pted  by  the  reassertion  of  Dutch  so^ 

by  the  Du  ch  under  much  the  same  circumstan,^ 

«h«lmarkedthesu,renderofStuyvesantinl664. 
^e  old  habit  of  unpreparedness  survived  under 

the  Enghsh  as  under  the  Dutch;  and  the  third  war 
between  England  and  Holland,  begun  in  Hti  «ud 


m 


THE  BARLY  ENGUSH  GOVERNQBS    148 
ended  in  1674,  found  the  itntegic  poinU  on  the 
HudMn  again  unprotected.    One  August  day  in 
1878  a  powerful  Dutch  fleet  appeared  6B  SUten 
Wand.   On  the  next  day  it  .ailed  up  through  the 
Narrows,  and  Manhattan  saw  a  repetiUon,  with  a 
difference,  of  the  scene  of  1664.   After  a  brief  ex- 
change <rf  volleys  between  the  strong  fleet  and 
the  weak  fortress,  the  garrison  recognised  that  n- 
•irtance  was  hopeless.  New  York  surrendered  to 
Admiral  Evertsen,  and  the  flag  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
public floated  once  more  over  the  fortress,  which 
changed  its  name  to  Fort  Willem  Hendrick  while 
New  York  became  New  Orange.   Governor  Love- 
lace was  absent  from  the  city  at  the  moment,  and 
the  blame  of  the  surrender  fell  upon  Manning, 
a  subordinate,  who  was  tried  for  neglect  of  duty,' 
cowardice,  and  treachery.    His  sword  was  broken 
over  his  head  and  he  was  pronounced  ineligible  for 
any  office  of  trust.    But  no  governor  could  have 
saved  the  situation,  as  nothing  was  ready  for 
ddense.    When  the  Dutch  took  possession,  Cap- 
tain Anthony  Colve  was  appointed  Governor.   He 
proceeded  with  energy  to  put  the  fort  into  condi- 
tion for  defense,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  as  if  the 
Dutch  might  at  last  hold  their  rich  heritage  akng 
the  Hudson.   At  the  dose  of  hostilities,  however,  a 


f\^ 


m 


1 1 


m 


»«aocofy  •EsouiTUN  tbt  chmt 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


^1141^ 


A  /APPLIED  IM^OE    In 

S^  tA^3  Eoit  Uain  Str«*t 

S^S  ftochntar.  n»m  York        US09       UU 

yS  (^'C)  +82  -  0300  -  Phons 

SS  <''C)  2B3  -  5989  -  Fan 


3  t 


'(^'. 


144  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

to.aty  which  w«  signed  .t  Westminster  in  Febn.- 
«7. 1674.  and  proclaimed  at  the  City  Hall  of  New 

STn  It  f'."".^'  '""'•'  ^^"'  '*^P^^  that 
New  Neth«land  should  again  become  an  English 

Z7"":J^'^  '"  "^^  ""^  '"^''  '^  -tional  flag 
was  lowered  at  the  fort  on  Manhattan  Island  with! 
out  senous  effort  at  opposition. 

The  treaty  didnot  «storeNew  York  to  the  Duke 
wh^  name  it  bore  but  handed  it  over  directly 
to  Charfes  II.  who.  however,  again  g««ted  it  t^ 
h«  broker  James.  Edmund  Andros.  a  major  in 
Pnnce  Rupert's  regiment  of  dragoons,  w  J  sent 

nl  t  L  r*'"'  "^  *^'  P'°^*«'  ^^'^  had 
now  changed  hands  for  the  last  time.  His  chai. 
a«ter  was  probably  neither  so  wUte  nor  so  black 
as  .t  ha.  been  painted;  but  it  is  certain  that  he 
acked  the  tact  of  Nicolls.  and  he  brought  to  his 
ta^k  the  habits  of  a  soldier  rather  thL  a^^ 
-.nistrator.  He  never  succeeded  in  winning  Z 
complete  confidence  of  the  people 

Prom  the  beginning  Andros  showed  himself  hos- 
Ule  to  popular  hberty  and  loyal  to  the  interesU  of 
i- patron  as  he  saw  them.  But  the  difficulties 
of  h  8  posiuon.  .t  must  be  admitted,  were  very 

II.  and.  m  the  absence  of  legitimate  children  of 


111 


rt 


THE  EARLY  ENGUSH  GOVERNORS    145 

the  King,  the  heir  to  the  throne,  had.  as  we  have 
seen,  been  granted  all  rights  in  the  conquered 
territory  of  New  Netherland  in  1664.    Part  of 
this  territoiy  he  promptly  gave  to  two  court  favor- 
'tes.  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret.    The 
^aaou3  Nicolls  protested  that  this  partition 
which  surrendered  to  a  divided  ownership  the  rich 
ands  of  New  Jersey  -  so  called  in  honor  of  Car- 
teret s  gallant  defense  of  the  Island  of  Jersey  during 
the  Cva  Wars- was  a  menace  to  the  well-being 
of  New  York.   His  warning,  which  might  not  have 
been  heeded  in  any  case,  did  not  reach  England 
until  the  transfer  was  completed. 

With  the  Dutch  occupation  all  titles  were  can- 
«ded.  but  under  the  new  treaty,  James,  although 
by  this  time  thoroughly  informed  of  the  complica- 
tions mvolved.  with  the  usual  fatuity  of  the  Stuarts 
now  made  a  grant  of  the  eastern  part  of  New 
Jersey  to  Carteret  in  severalty,  taking  no  notice 
of  the  western  part,  which  Berkeley  had  abeady 
sold  for  the  sum  of  a  thousand  pounds.    By  this 
grant  to  Carteret  many  questions  were  at  once 
raised    Was  Sir  George  Carteret  a  lord  proprietor 
hke  the  Duke  himself,  responsible  only  to  the 
l&ng.  or  was  he  only  a  lord  of  the  manor  respon- 
sible to  his  master  the  Duke?    WasEastJcMeya 


¥ 

t 
I 


I 


u 


>: 


•^k 


^'^    : 


146  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HDDSON 
part  of  New  York,  or  was  it  an  independent  prov- 
ince? As  usual  the  importance  of  the  questions 
was  based  on  commercial  considerations.  If  New 
Jersey  were  a  separate  entity  then  it  might  trade 
directly  with  England;  if  it  were  dependent  on 
New  York  it  could  trade  only  by  permission  of  the 
Duke's  representative. 

Phihp  Carteret,  a  kinsman  of  Sir  George,  whom 
the  latter  had  appointed  Governor  of  his  share  of 
New  Jersey,  and  who  went  to  America  in  the  same 
ship  as  Andros  in  1674.  determined  to  test  the  mat- 
ter by  declaring  Elizabethtown  a  free  port,  while 
Andros  demanded  thai  aU  ships  bound  to  or  from 
any  port  in  the  original  New  Netherland  must 
enter  and  clear  at  New  York.    With  equal  per- 
tinacity Andros  asserted  the  Duke's  authority  in 
West  Jersey,  haling  Fenwick,  one  of  the  claim- 
ants under  the  original  grant  of  1674.  to  court  in 
New  York.    Fenwick's  land  tiUes.  however,  were 
sustained,  and  Andros  then  released  him  upon  his 
explicit  promise  that  he  would  not  meddle  with 
the  government  of  West  Jersey.    Taking  advan- 
tage of  the  death  of  Sir  George  Carteret  in  1680. 
Andros   next    arrested   and   imprisoned   Gover- 
nor Philip  Carteret  on  the  ground  that  he  now 
had  no  authority,  and  then  himself  assumed  the 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  GOVERNORS  147 
governorship  of  East  Jersey.  But  Carteret  was 
acquitted,  the  Assembly  of  East  Jersey  sustained 
their  Governor,  and  the  towns  refused  to  s-ibmit. 
Meanwhile,  charges  of  corruption  had  been 
brought  against  Andros  in  New  York,  where  his 
imperious  manner  and  arbitrary  conduct  had  made 
enemies.  He  was  recalled  to  England  in  1681  to 
answer  these  chaijjtis,  and  in  consequence  of  the 
disaffection  which  he  had  stirred  up  he  was  re- 
moved from  o£Bce. 

Colonel  Thomas  Dongan.  the  Governor  chosen 
to  succeed  Andros,  was  a  younger  son  of  an  Irish 
Baronet  and  a  Roman  Catholic.    The  laws  of  Eng- 
land forbade  a  Catholic  to  hold  office  in  that  coun- 
try; but  there  was  not  the  same  barrier  in  the 
province  subject  to  a  Lord  Proprietor.    James, 
being  of  the  Catholic  faith,  was  therefore  glad  to 
appoint  people  of  that  religion  in  the  New  World. 
Realizing,however,  that  the  feeling  against  Catholi- 
cism was  strong  in  the  colony,  the  Duke  gilded 
the  piU  by  granting  more  liberal  laws  and  a  more 
popular  form  of  government  than  had  previously 
been  permitted.    At  the  time  of  his  appointment 
Dongan  received  instructions  from  the  Duke  of 
York  to  caU  a  representative  Assembly  of  not  more 
than  eighteen  members  to  be  chosen  by  the 


)'■ 

.) 


i     y. 


It.. 


148  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
freeholders  of  the  province.  This  Aasembly  met 
in  October.  1683,  and  passed  some  fifteen  laws,  the 
first  and  most  memorable  of  which  was  the  so- 
c»iM  Charter qfldberHe*  and PrwiUget.  Themost 
notable  provisions  of  the  charter  were  those  estab- 
lishing the  principles  of  popular  representation  and 
religious  liberty,  and  those  reciting  the  guarantees 
of  civil  rights  familiar  to  all  Englishmen. 

Before  this  charter  could  be  finally  ratified  by 

the  Duke  of  York,  Charles  II  died  from  a  stroke 

of  apoplexy,  and  James  became  King.     Aftei 

fifteen  minutes  in  his  closet,  where  he  had  retired 

to  give  "full  scope  to  his  tears,"  he  emerged  to 

work  for  three  years  his  bigoted  will  on  the  affairs 

of  the  reahn.     James  the  King  took  a  different 

view  of  many  things  from  James  the  Duke.    The 

status  of  New  York  was  similarly  changed  from  a 

ducal  proprietorship  to  a  royal  province.   The  new 

charter  recognized  t  Lord  Proprietor.    But  that 

Lord  Proprietor  had  now  become  King  of  England, 

and  this  King  found  some  of  the  enactments  of 

the  charter  so  objectionable  to  His  Majesty  that 

he  disallowed  the  charter.     Moreover,  James  did 

away  with  the  Assembly  which  he  had  previously 

allowed  to  be  summoned.   But  the  seed  of  popular 

government  had  been  planted  in  the  Western 


I 


■  I 

(4 


if 


V  f 


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i:( 


Its  nr 


II  t 

If 


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.-.llo 


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■nat 


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in    the   Western 


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f  ■ 

I 

;1" 


THE  EARLY  ENGUSH  GOVEBNOBS  1« 
Hemuphere  ud  within  the  neact  centiuy  ft  wu 
ripe  for  the  harveitiiig. 

In  1088  New  York  and  New  Jeney  wera  united 
with  the  Eastern  colonies  under  title  of "  The  Do- 
minion of  New  Engknd, "  and  Sir  Edmund  Andioi 
was  appointed  Governor-General  of  a  territory  of 
imperial  dimensions.  But  the  year  of  his  arrival 
in  New  York  marked  the  departure  of  his  royal 
master  from  England.  Bigotiy  and  tyranny  had 
overshot  the  marie  and  the  English  people  had 
detennined  to  dethrone  James. 

On  the  inviution  of  the  Protestant  nobiuty, 
James's  son-in-Uw,  William  of  Orange,  landed  at 
Torbay  in  November,  1688.  and  rapidly  won  popu- 
lar support.  After  beginning  negoti»tions  with 
him.  James  became  alarmed  and  took  iUght  to 
France  at  the  close  of  the  year.  William  of  Orange 
and  his  wife,  James's  daughter  Mary,  then  became 
King  and  Queen  of  England  (February  18,  1689) 
and  New  York  once  more  passed  under  the  con- 
trol of  a  Dr.tch  sovereign. 


' '  i  . 


fii 


>■ 


CHAPTER  IX 


i; 
1'^ 


LElai,BB 

Thb  atoiy  of  the  so-called  Leisler  Rebellion  illua- 
tratM  the  difficulty  of  gifting  conflicting  historical 
testimony.  Among  the  earlier  chroniclers  of  New 
Netherland  there  is  the  widest  difference  of  opin- 
ion about  the  chief  actor  in  the  drama.  Leisler 
was  "an  illiterate  German,"  says  one  authority. 
Ant  Iher  says :  "He  was  the  son  of  a  French  clergy, 
man  driven  into  exile,  and  making  his  home  in 
Frankfort  where  the  little  Jacob  was  bom.  The 
boy  was  taught  to  write  and  speak  Dutch,  French, 
and  German;  but  being  unt^killed  in  the  English 
tongue  he  was  unjustly  charged  with  illiteracy." 
By  one  party  he  was  branded  as  a  vulgar  dema- 
gogue ready  to  ally  himself  with  the  mob  against 
the  conservative  citizenry.  By  another  he  was  ac- 
claimed as  the  champion  of  the  people's  rights  and 
religion  when  they  were  threatened  with  invasion 
by  the  minions  of  the  perfidious  Stuarts. 


1/ 


LBISLER  151 

In  regard  to  the  main  event*  of  this  troubled 
time  there  it.  fortunately,  litUe  dispute,  although 
they  are  to  complicated  that  they  require  doM 
attention.    When  James  II  fled  from  England  at 
the  end  of  the  year  1688  and  was  succeeded  by 
William  and  Mary,  the  affairs  of  the  American 
provinces  were  thrown  into  a  state  of  chaos.    The 
change  of  government  was  not  known  in  Massa- 
chusetts until  March,  1689.    The  immediate  result 
of  the  news  was  to  fan  the  popular  wrath  against 
Sir  Edmund  Andros,  then  in  Boston,  into  such  a 
flame  that  the  Governor  was  seized  and  thrown 
into  prison  before  he  was  able  to  make  his  escape 
to  New  York.    His  imprisonment  left  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Nicholson,  Andres's  deputy  at  New 
York,  in  a  difficult  position.      Andros  was  still 
Goverpor  ,md  Nicholson  was  unable  to  communi- 
cate V  ith  him.    Some  people  held  that  Nicholson 
thi' ,  oecame  acting  Governor;  otheia  claimed  that 
the  whole  existing  machinery  of  government  was 
swept  away  by  the  abdication  of  James  and  that 
the  provinces  were  free  to  govern  themselves  till 
they  could  learn  the  will  of  the  new  sovereigns. 

Nicholson  was  a  weak  man.  and  his  vacillation 
produced  the  impression  that  he  might  be  engaged 
in  a  conspiracy  to  bring  back  the  rule  of  James. 


I  ^ 

Si 


irt 


•I 

m 


25*  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
IW  yea«  before,  in  the  King's  camp,  he  had 
knelt  wh«,  Mass  was  celebrated.   Who  knew  what 
CaUiohc  designs  nught  lurk  behind  this  significant 
act?    Rumor  grew  into  suspicion,  and  suspicion 
turned  to  panic.    At  length  Nicholson  fell  into  an 
altercation  with  an  officer  on  guard  at  Fort  James 
who  r   ierted  his  authority.     In  the  course  of 
the  argument  the  Lieutenant-Governor  remarked 
angnly:  "I  would  rather  see  the  city  on  fire 
than   commanded    by   an  impudent  fellow  like 
Imn.     N«tmomingwordhadspread/arandwide 
through  the  town  that  Nicholson  had  threatened 

to  hum  New  York,  and  all  was  in  an  uproar    A 
crowd  of  citizens  appeared  at  the  house  of  Leisler 
who  was  an  officer  in  the  train-band,  a  citizen  well 
known  for  honesty,  a  stanch,  even  bigoted  Prot- 
«tant.  and  withal  a  man  of  firm  purpose,  and 
they  begged  him  to  act  as  their  leader  in  a  deter- 
mined effort  to  preserve  their  liberties  and  hold 
New  York  for  William  and  Maiy.    It  is  easy  to 
see  on  looking  back  over  two  centuries  that  the 
dangers  of  conspiracy  were  greaUy  exaggerated; 
but  we  must  remember  that  these  men  really 
believed  that  they  themselves  and  all  that  they 
held  sacred  were  in  jeopardy.    The  possibility  of 
war  with  France  was  indeed  not  remote;  and  fear 


LEISLEB  153 

of  an  invittion  from  Canada  with  all  the  honors  of 
an  ladian  war  haunted  the  minds  a'  ev«y  frontier 
family. 

I*Werinvitedthepeopleof  thetownsandcoun- 
ties  of  New  York  to  choose  delegates  to  a  conven- 
tion to  be  held  at  Port  James  on  June  25. 1689  to 
consider  what  was  best  to  be  done  under  existing 
conditions.   Ulster.  Albany,  and  most  of  the  towns 
in  Queens  County  refused  to  send  delegates.    The 
others  responded,   however,   and  the  delegates 
formed  themselves  into  a  committee  of  safety 
They  appointed  Leisler  "Captain  of  the  fort  at 
New  York  until  orders  shaU  be  received  from  their 
Majesties,"  and  Leisler  accepted  tiie  responsibili- 
ties of  government. 

Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  congratulated 
him  on  his  conduct,  und  in  the  province  of  New 
York  he  was  generally  approved;  but  he  had  the 
misfortune  to  be  opposed  by  tiie  Roman  CatiioKcs 
and  tiie  landed  gentiy.  The  former  were  few  in 
number  and,  after  tiie  establishment  of  tiie  Prot- 
estant succession,  a  negligible  danger,  tiiough  in 
view  of  tiie  assertion  made  by  James  to  tiie  Pope 
that  "it  was  his  fuU  purpose  to  have  set  up  Bo- 
man  Catiiolic  Religion  in  tiie  English  Plantations 
of  America."  we  can  scarcely  call  it  bigotry  on 


J 


(I 


ISi  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

Leisler'sparttofeartheirinfluence.  Unfortunately 
for  the  Leislerians  "the  gentry"  made  common 
cause  with  the  Catholics  against  the  new  Govern- 
ment. Albany,  which  was  preeminently  Dutch 
and  held  the  Reformed  Church  in  reverence,  was 
also  aristocratic  in  sympathy  and  resented  the 
rule  of  Leisler  as  the  representative  of  the  common 
people.  Even  so,  had  Leisler  shown  more  tact  and 
less  obstinacy  there  might  still  have  been  a  chance 
to  placate  the  opposing  factions;  but  by  his  fanat- 
ical attacks  on  all  Catholics  and  his  open  defiance 
of  such  prominent  citizens  as  Nicholas  Bayard, 
Stephanus  Van  Cortlandt,  Frederick  Philipse,  Peter 
Schuyler,  and  Robert  Livingston,  he  fomented  the 
strife  until  conciliation  became  impossible. 

In  the  beginning  of  January,  1689,  Leisler  com- 
mitted a  grievous  strategical  error  in  permitting 
Nicholson  to  leave  for  Enghmd  to  render  an 
account  of  the  state  of  affairs,  while  the  Leislerians 
depended  upon  communications  written  in  dubious 
English  and  carried  by  a  bearer  who  was  of  inferior 
social  standing. 

Meanwhile  Leisler  won  a  temporary  victory  over 
his  opponents.  In  December  dispatches  arrived 
from  the  Privy  Council  and  the  King  and  Queen  of 
England,  addressed  to  "Our  Lieutenant-Governor 


LEISLER  us 

and  Commander-m-Chief  of  our  Province  of  New 
York,  or  in  his  absence  to  such  as  for  the  time 
being  take  care  to  keep  the  peace  and  administer 
the  laws,"  and  authorizing  him  to  take  the  reins 
of  government,  calling  to  his  assistance  "in  the 
administration  thereof  the  principal  freeholders 
and  inhabitants  of  the  same,  or  so  many  of  them 
as  you  shall  think  fit."  Nicholson  having  departed 
for  England,  the  messenger  was  in  some  doubt  as 
to  the  proper  recipient  of  the  message.    Bayaid 
and  his  faction  strove  to  obtein  possession  of  it; 
but  it  was  finally  dehvered  to  Leisler.     He  ap^ 
pointed  a  council  of  eight  men,  all  reputeble  citi- 
zens and  by  no  means  representing  the  rabble,  as 
his  enemies  charged.     In  this  procedure  he  was 
acting  in  strict  conformity  with  the  letter  from 
the  Privy  Council. 

Leisler  assumed  the  tiUe  of  Lieutenant-Gover- 
nor and,  much  to  the  chagrin  of  Us  foes,  took  his 
seat  in  the  Giovemor's  pew  at  church.  It  was 
his  moment  of  triumph;  but  troubles  were  already 
darkening  the  horizon.  In  November  Leisler  seat 
to  Albany  his  deputy,  an  Englishman  named  Mil- 
borne,  to  demand  the  recognition  of  his  Govern- 
ment; but  the  mandate  being  opposed  by  Schuyler, 
Livingston,  and  Bayard,  all  well  known  and  highly 


Hi 


.'r 


%■ 


V 


.  \'iiP 


I  * 


•  i 


166  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
erteemed  in  Albany  and  representing  the  aristo- 
««tic  faction,  that  town  refused  entrance  to 
Mabome  and  his  escort  and  refused  likewise  to 
recognize  Leisler  as  Governor. 

The  Albany  Records  for  November,  1689  de- 
SMibe  the  incident  as  follows :  "Three  sloops  nelred 
Albany  bearing  troops  under  Jacob  Milbome  and 
umnediately  Captain  Wendell  and  Blucker.  Jo- 
hannes Cuyler  and  Reymier  Barents  go  aboard  to 
W  the  object  of  his  visit.  Jacob  Milbome  asks: 
Is  the  fort  open  to  receive  me  and  my  men?'  The 
repjr  is:  'No.  the  Mayor  is  in  command  and  will 
now  it. 

On  the  receipt  of  this  inhospitable  message 
reenforced  by  military  demonstrations.  Milbome' 
wisely  withdrew  his  inadequate  force  and  returned 
to  New  York  to  report  the  failure  of  his  mission 
Three  months  after  MUbome's  rejection,  in  the 
bitter  Febmary  weather  of  1690.  the  viUage  of 
Schenectady,  at  that  time  a  western  frontier  post 
WM  burned  and  ite  inhabitants  were  massacred  in' 
a  French  and  Indian  raid.    Once  more  Leisler  sent 
his  deputy  at  the  head  of  a  body  of  troops  to  the 
assi.  «iceoftheAlbanians.«udthistimeMilbome 
was  not  denied  entrance  to  the  town.   Having  thus 
gained  control  of  the  province.  Leisler  summoned 


LEISIEB  igj 

a  convention  of  delegates  from  MaagadnwsttB  and 
Connecticut  to  meet  at  New  York  on  May  1. 1690. 
m  Older  to  discuss  the  defense  of  the  colonies 

Meanwhile  the  Leislerians  and  their  opponents 
were  bombarding  the  new  King  and  Queen  with 
then-  cc-  girting  claims.    In  1690.  Captain  Blagge. 
wngratulating  their  Majesties  on  "the  late  Happy 
Revolution  in  England"  asked  their  Majesties' 
approbation  for  Leisler  on  the  ground  that  "Nich- 
•jbon.  like  Col.  Dongan.  had  neglected  to  repair 
the  fortificatiom,  of  the  city,  which  exdted  sus- 
piaons  against  his  loyalty,  and  he  was  disaffected 
towards  the  late  happy  revolution  in  England  " 
Hence  Jacob  Leisler  had  been  chosen,  "with  a 
committee,  to  make  such  repairs  and  to  administer 
the  government  until  William's  pleasure  could  be 
known."    The  memorial  goes  on  to  say: 

^K^T^!^'  *"*  M»J«ties'  Proclamation  arrived  by 
whch  Wdh»,  and  Jfa,y  were  to  be  p^claimedliS 

Conned  of  Nicholson,  and  to  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen 
^^l!f  P~Per  ceremonies,  in  this  IWlan„^tion. 
^Jrf-  ?  •""''  lV"«  f-  considering  it,  and  then 
irfused.  Leisler  and  his  Committee  and  most  of  the 
habitants  did  then  celebrate  the  event^  "L^ 
demonstrations  of  joy  and  affection  ^^ 

The  Mayor  and  Aldermen  were  then  suspended  from 


} 


le 


«3 


i^ 


i  i 


i; 


I«8  DUTCH  AND  SNGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

«flioe.  and  certain  opponent,  of  the  Revolution  and  their 
Majeitws  interest.,  were  hnpri«>ned.  Shortiy  after 
Uieir  Majesties'  letten  arrived,  directed  to  Lieutenant 
Governor  Nichol«,n,  or,  "in  hi.  abrence  to  roch  a.  for 
the  tune  being  do  take  care  for  the  pre*rvation  of  their 
Majesties'  Peace,  and  admini«tering  the  Lawes  in  that 
their  Majesties-  Province;  ordering  such  to  Uke  upon 
them  the  phice  of  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Comman- 
der in  Chief  of  the  said  Province  and  to  proclaim  King 
WUham  and  Queen  Maiy,  King  and  Queen  of  England; 
Scotland  Prance  and  Ireland,  and  supream  Lord  and 
Ladyof  the  Province  of  New  York,  if  not  already  done"; 
which  was  accordingly  done. 

The  InhabitanU  generally  were  satisfied  therewitii. 
and  Leisler  s  committee  was  dismiMed,  and  a  Council 
^OKn  to  assist  him  in  the  govemnent;  but  the  mem- 
bers of  the  old  government  opposed  aU  this  and  created 
a  faction.   This  excited  fear  lest  the  Province  should  yet 
be  dehvered  up  to  the  French  in  Canada,  wh  h  fear 
greatly  agitated  the  Protestant  population.    The  said 
faction  also  surrounded  Captain  Leisler  and  abused  him 
with  ill  language  and  threats,  and  would  have  done 
violence  to  him,  if  they  had  not  feared  the  people,  who 
rescued  him  out  of  tiieir  hands,  and  imprisoned  tiie 
nngleaders  of  the  opposition.    Multitudes  also  flocked 
into  Uie  city  from  the  country,  to  defend  the  existing 
government,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  Uiat  th^ 
zeal  could  be  restrained.   The  pria>ner«  were  ultimately 
fined  and  d«charged  upon  tiieir  own  recognizance  to 
Keep  the  peace. 

-The  Port  and  City  were  therefore,  now  in  a  good  con- 
dition, exceptmg  a  lack  of  ammunition.  The  Commis- 
sion of  all  mihtary  men  who  had  acted  under  Governors 


ll! 


LEISLER  159 

Dongan  and  Andros,  had  been  caUed  in.  and  other 
Commission,  issued  in  the  name  of  their  present  Majes- 
bes  and  only  to  those  who  were  well  affected  thereto. 
But  our  efforU  thus  to  secure  their  Majesties  interest, 
have  been  greatly  misrepresented,  and  we  have  been 
loaded  with  reproaches;  our  actions  have  been  caUed  a 
Dutch  plot,  although  three  quarters  of  the  inhabitants 
Me  of  Dutch  descent,  and  speak  Dutch;  and  our  ruin  is 
threatened,  if  the  govemmeLL  ever  faUs  into  the  hands 
of  our  opponents. 

To  this  lengthy  defense  Bayard  and  NicoUs 
made  response  as  follows: 

Jacob  Leisler  a  man  of  desperate  fortune,  ambitiously 
did  assume  unto  himselfe  the  Utle  of  Lieutenant-Gover- 
nor of  this  Province  of  New  York,  and  chose  a  counoel  of 
ye  meanest  and  most  abject  common  people;  made  to 
himself  a  Br<»d  Scale,  which  he  caUed  ye  Sealc  of  ye 

^TIT;?  ^'  "™''"  """'"'  °'  ^'^  °f  Engkuid; 
and  affixed  the  same  to  some  unlawful  graunU  of  land 
withm  this  Provmce;  and  commissionated  under  ve 
same  Juices  of  ye  Peace,  in  whose  hartcs  were  X 
chiefe  He  constituted  CourU  of  Qyer  and  Terminer 
and  tiyed  severall  subjects  for  pretended  treason 
murther  and  other  crimes.  He  taxed  and  levied  monney 
upon  their  Majesties  subjects  to  their  grievous  oppre». 
sion  and  great  impoverishment.  When  he  wanted  more 
money  for  his  occasions,  he  foreebly  robbed  and  spoiled, 
broke  open  doors  and  locx  were  he  guissed  it  was  to  b^ 
found,  Md  earned  away  to  ye  valine  of  some  thousands 
of  pounds  m  money  or  goods;  and  all  this  against  the 


i- 


$Pi 


r.  1 


I  •*.«■ 


m 


f. 


11  , 


m    .\ 


m  DDTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

to  tteu  Ma,e.te^  beoune  •  terwiw  to  him;  «,me  rf 

2^  I.-  V  !  '^'"  "»««"«'«•».  without  ooUour  rf 
Uw.  he  wh.pt  and  brwded;  and  «me  he  kept  in  du«» 
•o  long  as  he  held  ye  fort.  ^^^ 

Upon  one  point,  both  the  followers  and  oppo- 
nents  of  Leisler  agreed:  there  was  no  Dutch  plot 
behind  this  revolution.    "The  notion  of  a  Dutch 
plott  cannot  be  applicable  to  Leisler  and  his  ad- 
Wnts."  said  Bayard:  "the  much  greater  part  of 
Albany  which  wholly  consists  of  Dutch  people 
and  all  the  men  of  best  repute  for  religion,  estatte.' 
and  integrity  of  the  Dutch  nacon.  throughout  the 
whole  Province,  halving  alwaies  been  manifestly 
agamst  Leisler  and  his  society,  in  all  their  ill^aU 
and  irreguhir  proceedings."    To  these  representa- 
tions their  Majesties'  advisers  made  no  reply,  but 
the  appointment  of  Governor  of  New  York  was 
given  to  Colonel  Henry  Sloughter.  "a  profligate, 
needy,  and  narrow  minded  adventurer, "  the  select 
tion  of  whom  did  little  credit  to  the  wisdom  of 
Wdliam  of  Orange.     All  the  papers  from  both 
factions  were  committed  to  this  inefficient  officer 
with  instructions  to  examine  the  allegations  strictly 
and  impartially  and  to  make  a  true  report 


Pi 
m 


,  I  I 


In  December,  laoo.  Sloughter  .et  «il  with 
^«^  d^p.  «.d  .  body  of  troop..    By  ,on.e  «- 
«dent  the  ye«el.  were  .epwated.  and  the  ahip 
b««ng  Major  Rid««l  I„g„Me.by.  "a  ««h.  ho^ 
headed  man"  who  h«l  «^ed  in  HoUand  and 
wc«Btly  returned  from  «rvice  in  Ireland,  arrived 
m  Ox^  Beaver  two  months  before  Sloughter'o  ship 
««Jed  New  York.   His  commission  required  hi:^ 
to  obey  the  royal  Governor,  but  did  not  give  him 
authority  to  act  as  commander-in-chief  in  case  of 
Sloughters  absence  or  death.    Nevertheless  In- 
goldesby  at  once  announced  the  appointment  of 
Sloughter  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  fort 

Leisler  replied  by  offeringquartersforlngoldesby's 
soldiers;  but  refused  to  surrender  the  fort  till  he 
saw  the  Major's  commission. 

Ingoldesby  had  no  credentials  whatever,  but  he 
issued  a  proclamation  calling  on  the  people  and 
magistrates  to  aid  him  in  enforcing  the  royal  com- 
nnssion.  Leisler  issued  a  counter  proclamation 
wanung  him  at  his  peril  not  to  attempt  hostilities 
agamst  the  city  or  the  fort;  but  on  receiving  assur- 
ances that  Ingoldesby  had  no  intention  of  using 
force  against  the  people  of  New  York,  he  per- 
mitt«l  the  troops  to  land.  The  fort,  however,  he 
would  not  yield.    With  rival  forces  in  the  town 


^ 


i 


'■k 


i  i 


M«  DBTCH  AND  ENGLISH  OS  THE  HUDSON 
peace  waa  difficult  to  maintain.  Neither  com- 
mander tnuted  the  other.  Becrimination  fol- 
low id  protert.  Finally,  on  the  17th  of  March, 
Leisler  fired  on  Ingoldesbjr's  troop*,  killing  two  and 
wounding  others. 

At  length  on  March  19, 1091,  Sloughter  entered 
the  harbor  of  New  York.  Representative  anti- 
Leislerians  hastened  to  board  his  ship  and  escorted 
him  to  the  City  Hall,  where  he  took  the  oath  of 
office  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  He  immediately 
dispatched  Ingoldesby  to  demand  the  surrender 
of  the  fort.  Again  Leisler's  bigotry  and  obstinacy 
overcame  his  prudence.  Instead  of  surrendering 
at  once  he  dispatched  a  messenger  bearing  letters 
and  warning  him  to  look  well  at  Sloughter  and  be 
sure  he  was  no  counterfeit.  Sloughter  informed 
Leisler's  messenger  that  he  intended  to  make  him- 
self known  in  New  York  as  well  as  in  England  and 
ordered  Ingoldesby  for  the  second  time  to  demand 
possession  of  the  fort  and  to  release  from  their 
prison  Colonel  Bayard  and  Mr.  Nicolls,  that  they 
might  attend  the  council  to  which  they  had  been 
appointed  members. 

Leisler  refused  either  to  surrender  the  fort  or  to 
release  the  prisoners  but  sent  Milbome  and  De 
la  Noy  to  endeavor  to  make  terms.    Sloughter 


LEISLER 


impriMned  both  envoyi  «i>d  ordered  hja  frigate 
u-,u ,...,,  j^  „„jj,^  to  fire  on 


188 


holditwUi 


to 


t  the  fort.   Leuler. 


*t  length  and  too  late  realizing  that  redttance  waa 
u«eleM,  Knt  a  letter  to  the  Governor  offering 
•ubmiMion.  For  the  third  time  Ingoldesby  wa« 
ordered  to  demand  the  poMesMon  of  the  fort.  Thia 
time  the  garriaon  yielded  and  Leiiler  waa  put  under 
arrest 

With  MUbome.  now  hi.  «on-in-law.  and  eight 
othen.  Leiiler  wa.  arraigned  before  a  court  having 
inveterate  royalists  as  judges.  Two  insurgent.  wei» 
acquitted.  Six  made  their  defense,  were  convicted 
of  high  treason,  and  were  reprieved.    Leisler  and 
MUbome  declined  to  plead  and  appealed  to  the 
King.    Ihey  were,  however,  condemned  and  sen- 
tenced  to  death.    Sloughter  was  reluctant  to  sign 
the  death-warrants;  but  his  associates,  more  par- 
ticularly Bayard,  who  had  been  imprisoned  by 
Leisler.  were  determined  on  the  execution.    It  is 
maintained  that  the  Governor's  signature  was 
obtained  at  a  banquet  when  he  was  under  the  in- 
fluence of  liquor,  and  that  an  oflicer  stole  with  the 
warrant  to  the  prison  and  ordered  the  victims  led 
out  for  immediate  execution.    Be  this  as  it  may, 
Sloughter's  compunctions  were  overcome  and  the 
death-warrants  signed. 


s 

I 


'if  I 


If' ' 


164  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  mJDBOS 

Theaeaffo'  «m  erected  at  the  lower  aid  ol  the 
parii  and  weeping  people  thnwffed  about  the  vfe- 
tim*.  Leuler's  dying  ipeech,  which  waa  mariced 
by  neither  anger  nor  bittcien,  affirmed  that  he 
had  no  other  aim  than  "to  maintain  againit  Popery 
or  any  ichism  or  here«y  whatever  the  interest  of 
our  Sovereign  Lord  and  Lady  and  the  Reformed 
Protestant  Churches"  in  these  parts.  The  drtq;> 
fell,  the  p<^ulace  rushed  up  to  claim  some  relics 
of  their  leader,  the  bodies  were  taken  down,  be- 
headed, and  buried,  and  so  the  worthless  Slough- 
ter  thou^t  to  make  an  end  of  "a  troublesome 
fellow." 

But  the  Leisler  blood  still  flowed  in  the  veins  of 
the  dead  man's  son,  who  never  ceased  fighting  till 
in  160S  the  attainder  on  the  estate  was  removed. 
This  action  of  the  English  Parliament  was  tanta- 
mount to  a  confession  that  Leisler  had  been  un- 
justly accused,  tried,  and  hanged,  and  that  these, 
the  only  people  ever  put  to  death  for  political 
reasons  on  the  soil  of  New  York,  died  as  misguided 
martyrs,  not  as  criminal  conspirators. 


CHAPTER  X 

raiTATBXIiB  AND  PIBATU 

8u,uoh™.  did  not  Kve  long  to  enjoy  hi,  triumph 
over  Leuler  «.d  hi.  death  came  «,  .uddenly  that 

2!-^^  !^**'  "^  *^«^  •y*™^*  "d 
whup«ed>,^...^hifcU,,Leiri^^^ 

4«r  dioulden  and  «,eewd  "delirium  t«m^." 
Neither  faction  Memed  articularly  rehictant  to 
part  with  him.  "-"no 

fr««nEnghnd«thenextGovemor.arriv«linNew 
xork  in  the  rammer  of  1698.  His  rule  is  chiefly 
memorable  for  the  founding  of  TWmty  Church 
and  for  the  encouragement  which  he  gave  to 
^.  The«s  rtrangely  differing  activities  weie 
both  obnoxious  to  the  Dutch  buighew.  who  were 
almost  as  strongly  opposed  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
tand  as  to  that  of  Rome,  and  who  suspected  the 
Wemor  of  conniving  at  the  practice  of  piracy  or 
it  least  of  closing  his  eyes  to  the  source  of  the 


i7 


i 


;^f 


MM 


r 


fi 


\ . 


u 


166  DUTCH  AND  EN6USH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
doubloons  of  Spain,  the  louis  d'or  of  France,  and 
other  strange  coin  which  at  this  epoch  had  begaa 
to  circulate  together  with  ivoty  and  sandalwood 
in  the  little  town  at  the  tip  of  Manhattan  Island. 

In  one  sense  Fletcher  cannot  be  held  responsible 
for  the  existence  of  piracy  in  the  colony  or  on  the 
high  seas.  The  institution  was  as  old  as  naviga- 
tion. Moreover  the  issuance  of  letters  of  marque 
in  the  war  with  Spain  had  legalized  privateering, 
which  was  so  near  akin  to  piracy  that  it  was  often 
hard  to  distinguish  between  the  two.  Even  roy- 
alty was  not  above  accepting  a  share  in  the  ques- 
tionable spoib  of  the  sea,  as  in  the  well-known  case 
of  Queen  Elizabeth  and  the  booty  which  Drake 
brought  home. 

It  is  easy,  therefore,  to  guess  the  source  of  the 
Eastern  rugs,  the  carved  teakwood  furniture,  and 
stuffs  from  India  looms  which  adorned  the  houses 
of  the  rich  men  of  New  York.  On  the  streets 
pirate  captains  were  pointed  out  as  celebrities. 
One  of  them,  Edward  Coates,  presented  Madam 
Fletcher  with  jewels,  silks,  and  cashmere  shawls. 
Thomas  Tew,  another  "filibustier,"  is  described 
by  a  contemporary  as  a  slight,  dark  man  about 
forty  years  of  age,  who  wore  a  uniform  consisting 
of  a  blue  jacket  bordered  with  gold  lace  and  short 


PMVATEERS  AND  WBATES  m 

trousers  of  white  linen  covering  Ws  legs  totheknee, 
below  which  came  embroidered  stockings.  Around 
his  neck  he  wore  a  chain  of  beaten  gold  and  from 
his  belt  protruded  a  dagger's  hilt  set  with  sparkling 
jewels. 

These  picturesque  pirates  and  privateers  swag- 
gered about  the  taverns  in  the  shadow  of  the  Stadl- 
Buyt  or  lounged  along  the  wharves  at  the  harbor. 
Everywhere  they  were  the  center  of  attention,  and 
their  tales  of  adventure  were  listened  to  with  the 
most  eager  interest.    But  these  adventurers  in 
the  end  pushed  things  so  far  that  the  Government 
m  England  found  itself  obliged  to  take  vigorous 
action  against  them.    James  expressly  instructed 
the  provincial  Governors  Andros  and  Dongan  to 
suppress  "all  pirates  and  sea  rovers. "  for  they  had 
become  so  bold  in  their  activities  along  the  Spanish 
Main  that  lawful  trading  was  languishing  and  mer- 
chants were  in  terror. 

Many  of  the  adventurers  in  the  West  Indies 
having  been  originally  engaged  in  the  honest  busi- 
ness of  boucanning,  or  smoking  fish  and  meat  after 
the  manner  of  the  Carib  savages,  they  and  their 
piratical  comrades  were  generally  known  in  Europe 
as  "buchaniers"  or  "buccaneers."  By  the  Hol- 
landers they  were  named  "zee  rovers";  by  the 


i- 


,1 


f 


If 


168  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
French  "flibustieri,"  which  was  only  the  French- 
man's way   of   pronouncing  "freebooter."     In 
1862  Samuel  Sewall  established  in  Boston  a  free 
mint,  which  attracted  the  pirates  to  that  town, 
where  they  could  bring  their  booty  in  gold  and 
sUver  and  have  it  safely  dropped  into  the  melting- 
pot  beyond  the  reach  of  either  discoveiy  or  re- 
covery.  In  1687  Sir  Robert   Hohnes  was  sent 
with  a  squadron  to  the  West  Indies  to  put  a  stop 
to  the  nefarious  trade  of  the  freebooters,  and  in 
the  next  year  Nicholson  imprisoned  at  Boston 
several  pirates  whose  leader  was  "one  Petersen." 
These  activities  on  the  part  of  the  authorities 
had  the  effect  of  driving  the  "zee  rovers"  from 
the  Caribbean  to  the  East  Indies  for  their  enter- 
prises and  from  Boston  to  New  York  for  their 
market. 

Sea  commerce  at  this  time  had  so  far  outstripped 
a  naval  power  adequate  to  protect  it  that  piracy 
grew  more  and  more  profitable,  and  many  a  re- 
spected merchant  held  private  stock  in  some  more 
than  dubious  sea  venture.  The  coast  of  Madagas- 
car was  a  meeting  place  for  pirates  and  merchant- 
men, and  there  Oriental  stuffs,  gold,  and  jeweb 
were  exchanged  for  rum  or  firearms,  and  the  mer- 
chant vessel  returned  to  New  York,  where  her 


PRIVATEERS  AND  PIHATES  169 

goods  were  sold  cheaply  and  no  questions  were 
arfced.  One  ship  sailing  from  New  York  laden 
with  Jamaica  rum,  Madeira  wine,  and  gunpowder 
returned  with  a  cargo  of  slaves  and  East  India 
goods,  and  the  voyage  was  reported  to  have  cleared 
net  profit  of  thirty  thousand  pounds. 
The  scandal  of  "adventuring"  continued  to 
grow,  and  in  1695  Peter  De  la  No^-  wrote  thus 
to  the  home  government: 

We  have  a  parcel!  of  pirates  in  the«.  parts  which 
(people)caUthcBedSeamen.whooftengetgreatbooty 
of  Arabian  Gold.     His  Excellency  gives  aU  due  en- 
couragement to  these  men.  because  they  make  all  due 
acknowledgemente  to  him;  one  Coats,  a  captain  of  this 
honorable  order  presented  his  ExceUency  with  his  ship, 
which  his  Excellency  sold  for  eight  hundred  pounds  and 
eveo;  one  of  the  crew  made  him  a  suitable  present  of 
Arabian  Gold  for  his  protection;  one  Captain  Twoo 
who  IS  gone  to  the  Red  Sea  upon  the  same  errand  was 
before  his  departure  highly  caressed  by  His  ExceUency 
m  his  coach  and  six  horses,  and  presented  ynth  a  gold 
watch  to  engage  him  to  make  New  York  his  port  at  his 
return.    Twoo  retaliated  the  kindnesse  with  a  present 
of  jeweUs;  but  I  can't  leam  how  much  further  the  bar- 
gain proceeded;  time  must  shew  that.  .  .  .    After  this 
all  you  wai  perhaps  wonder  when  I  tell  you  that  this 
man  s  beU  nngs  twice  a  day  for  prayers  and  that  he 
appears  with  a  great  affectation  of  piety;  but  this  is 
true,  and  it  is  as  true  that  it  makes  him  only  more  ridicu- 
lous, not  more  respected. 


14' 

P.I 


1/' 


I 


\f 


I 


w 


I; 


11' 


170  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

Not  only  were  the  buccaneers  terrorizing  the  West 
Indies,  the  Red  Sea,  and  the  Madagascar  coast, 
but  according  to  the  Albany  Records  of  1696 
"pirates  in  great  numbers  infest  the  Hudson  River 
at  its  mouth  and  waylay  vessels  on  their  way  to 
Albany,  speeding  out  from  covers  and  from  behind 
islands  and  again  returning  to  the  rocky  shores,  or 
ascending  the  mountains  along  the  river  to  conceal 
their  plunder." 

The  Government  in  England  now  prepared  to 
take  vigorous  measures.  It  desired  to  fit  out  an 
armed  force  to  suppress  the  buccaneers;  but  as  all 
the  regular  navy  was  needed  in  the  war  with  France 
it  was  decided  to  organize  a  stock  company  in 
which  the  King,  the  Duke  of  Shrewsbury,  Lord 
Chancellor  Somers,  the  Earls  of  Bellomont,  Ox- 
ford, and  Romney,  Robert  Livingston,  and  others 
took  shares,  for  the  purpose  of  fitting  out  a  priva- 
teer vessel  to  fight  the  pirates  and  at  the  same  time 
to  win  some  profit  for  themselves. 

The  Adventure-GaUey,  carrying  thirty  guns  and 
manned  by  over  one  hundred  sailors,  was  fitted  out 
and  entrusted  to  the  command  of  William  Kidd, 
a  sea-captain  of  New  York  who  chanced  to  be  in 
London  at  the  time  and  who  was  warmly  recom- 
mended by  Robert  Livingston  to  Lord  Bellomont, 


PRIVATEEES  AND  PIRATES  m 

who  had  been  appointed  to  succeed  Fletcher  as 
Governor  of  New  York.    He  was  well  known  as  a 
bold  and  skillful  sailor,  and  a  man  of  wealth  and 
repute  in  New  York,  and  in  his  marriage  certificate 
he  was  called  "Captain  William  Kidd,  Gentleman." 
The  plan  finally  formed  was  that  Kidd  with  t 
privateer  funushed  with  a  letter  of  marque  and  a 
q)ecial  commission  from  the  King  should  cruise 
aboutinsearchofthepiratesandcapturethem.  In 
pursuance  of  the  scheme  Kidd  set  saU  on  the  Ad- 
vmture-OalUy  and  reu. '  ed  New  York  in  the  spring 
of  1696.    He  set  up  placards  ah  over  the  town  ask- 
ing for  recruits,  with  the  result  "uit  a  motley  crew 
of  adventurers  rushed  to  take  ship  in  this  strange 
new  enterprise.   At  this  time  Kidd  was  living  in  one 
of  the  handsomest  houses  in  New  York,  on  what 
is  now  Liberty  Street.    Before  this,  in  1601.  he 
had  married  the  widow  of  a  fellow  sea-captain,  a 
woman  of  great  respectability,  by  whom  he  had 
one  daughter,  and  he  was  known  far  and  wide  as 
a  solid  and  trustworthy  merchant. 

His  venture  seemed  bulwarked  by  every  guaran- 
tee; but  even  at  that  epoch  there  were  not  wanting 
those  who  predicted  strange  things  for  the  Ad- 
venture-Galley. Few.  however,  foresaw  any  events 
as  strange  as  those  which  actually  occurred.    After 


I' 


/ 


,«; 


■'^^ 


uiJ'f 


■■^H 


U   i 


,  I 


m  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
cruiaing  along  the  American  coast  without  achiev- 
ing the  capture  of  any  pirate  ships  Kidd  set  sail  for 
the  Red  Sea  and  reached  the  coast  of  Madagascar 
in  the  faU  of  1697.  Here  again  he  found  no  trace 
of  the  corsairs,  who  had  probably  been  forewarned 
of  his  coming. 

Kidd  then  took  on  water  and  provisions  and 
proceeded  to  the  coast  of  Madagascar.    Still  no 
pirates.    Water  and  provisions  were  running  low, 
and  the  crew  threatened  mutiny  unless  they  were 
allowed  to  take  up  the  business  of  piracy  on  their 
own  account.    Kidd  thereupon  decided  to  yield, 
and  the  Adventure-GdUey  began  by  capturing  sev- 
eral vessels  owned  by  the  Great  Mogul,  as  well 
as  some  ships  sailing  under  French  colors.    In 
December,  1698,  Kidd  captured  an  East  India 
ship  named  the  Quedagh  Merchant.    The  Adven- 
twe-Gdh^  being  in  bad  condition,  Kidd  set  the 
crew  of  the  Quedagh  Merchant  on  shore,  took  pos- 
session of  the  ship,  burned  his  old  one,  and  set  sail 
in  his  new  vessel  for  Madagascar. 

In  spite  of  their  rich  spoils,  the  mutineers  re- 
mained sullen,  and  many  de.°erted.  The  men's 
discontent  led  to  an  altercation  with  William 
Moore,  a  gunner,  in  the  course  of  which  Kidd  hit 
him  on  the  head  with  a  bucket.     The  resulting 


-I,.;. 


PWVATEBRS  AND  HRATES  178 

injuiy  proved  fatal  to  Moore  and  ultimately  re- 
sulted in  disaster  for  Kidd.    After  leaving  Mada- 
gascar  the  pirate  captain  sailed  for  the  West 
IndieH.  and  it  must  have  been  with  a  sinloEg  heart 
that  he  received  the  news  which  awaited  him 
there.     The  piraty  of  the  Adventure-Oalley  was 
already  known  in  England,  and  a  committee  of 
Parliament  had  been  appointed  to  inquire  into 
the  whole  affair.     Free  pardon  for  acts  committed 
before  May  1, 1699.  was  offered  by  royal  proclama- 
tion to  all  pirates  who  would  surrender.    But  an 
ominous  exception  was  made  in  this  proclama- 
tion of  mercy:  Aveiy.  a  notorious  buccaneer,  and 
William  Kidd  were  not  included. 

The  cause  of  this  exclusion  from  grace  is  not  far 
to  seek.  It  was  not  that  Kidd  was  a  sinner  above 
aU  others;  but  that  he  had  involved  great  person- 
ages from  the  King  down,  and  that  the  Tories  were 
making  capital  out  of  the  connection  between 
prominent  Whig  sUtesmen  and  the  misdeeds  of 
Captain  Kidd.  The  outlaw  now  determined  on 
a  course  which  in  a  righteous  cause  might  well  have 
been  called  bold  but  which  under  the  circum- 
stances could  only  be  described  as  brazen.  He 
bought  at  the  island  of  Hispaniola  a  small  sloop 
which  he  loaded  with  gold  coin,  gold  dust,  gems, 


;• 


,1 


'H 


I! 


jl 


i  i' 


174  DUTCH  AND  ENGU8H  ON  THE  HUDSON 

and  other  booty  and.  with  what  remained  of  hit 
oew,  he  set  sail  for  New  York.  Thui  at  San 
Domingo  the  Qwdagk  Merchant,  with  her  fifty 
guM  and  her  valuable  cargo,  was  abandoned.  Her 
fate  has  continued  a  mystery  to  this  day.  and  from 
time  to  time  the  search  for  the  lost  booty  is  stiU 
suggested  and  inaugurated  by  enthusiasts  for  ad- 
venture or  seekers  for  gold. 

When  Kidd  drew  near  New  York  he  found  that 
the  Earl  of  Bellomont  had  gone  to  Boston,  and  he 
i«olved  to  follow  the  Governor  to  Massachusetts. 
Much  uncertainty  surrounds  his  course  at  this 
fame.    It  is  said  that  he  sailed  up  long  Mand 
Sound,  stopped  at  Gardiner's  Island,  and  buried  a 
diest  of  treasure  there,  that  he  presented  Mrs. 
Gardiner  with  brocades  embroidered  with  gold 
threads  and  dropped  jewels  into  his  wine.    It  is 
said  that  he  succeeded  in  reaching  his  wife  by  a 
fetter,  asking  her  to  meet  him  at  Block  Island. 
Rumor  has  it  that  from  Narragansett  Bay  he 
commumcated  with  Bellomont  and  informed  his 
lordship  that  he,  William  Kidd,  was  on  board  a 
sloop  with  ten  thousand  pounds'  worth  of  goods 
and  that  he  was  entirely  guiltless  of  the  piracy 
with  which  he  was  charged.    It  is  said  that  Bel- 
lomont replied  that,  if  Kidd  could  establish  his 


i.  ■    Hi 


FBIVATEERS  AND  FIBATES  175 

innocence,  he  might  count   on  the  Govenior'a 
protection.' 

Amid  all  these  rumors  there  seems  good  evi- 
dence that  Kidd  landed  in  Boston  in  July  and  had 
the  effrontery  to  offer  the  Governor  a  gift  of  jewels 
for  Lady  Bellomont.  With  the  approval  of  the 
Council  BeHomont  accepted  the  gift  and  handed 
the  gems  to  a  trustee  as  evidence  in  the  case  against 
Kidd,  The  Earl  of  BeHomont,  being  a  man  <tf 
sterling  integrity,  was  naturally  sensitive  as  to  his 
apparent  complicity  in  the  Kidd  piracy,  refused 
any  further  parley,  and  sent  the  buccaneer  to 
England  to  stand  his  trial  there. 

Kidd  was  held  in  London  for  several  months 
pending  the  oollection  of  evidence  against  him, 
and  ■•■j  trial  for  piracy  and  the  murder  of  William 
Moore  finally  began  at  the  Old  Bailey  in  the  spring 
of  1701.  Prom  this  point  we  have  the  original 
documents  of  the  i«tste  tnals  and  a  complete  record 
of  the  evidence  for  and  against  Kidd.  Bellomont 
is  eliminated  as  a  factor,  and  it  becomes  a  case  of 
the  Crown  against  Captain  William  Kidd  and  a 
number  of  others,  for  murder  and  piracy  upon  the 
high  seas. 

■  Bellomont  »u  commiMioiied  Governor  of  Muucfausetta  and 
New  Hampshire,  u  well  as  of  New  York. 


^/. 


.i 


liV 


i! 


1  ! 


11  ,\ 


we  DUTCH  AND  ENGU8H  ON  THE  HUDSON 
However  we  m«y  f eel  m  to  Kdd'.  guilt  in  the 
n»tter  of  plncy.  we  can  but  redice  that,  accoid. 
ing  to  the  .tandMdi  of  modem  time.,  he  w«  not 
even  a  fighting  chance  for  his  life.    He  waa  de- 
"led  in  Newgate  FHwn  and  denied  all  counsel 
nnui  he  had  pleaded  "guilty"  or  "not  guilty"  H 
.pite  of  all  his  p«rtest.  he  was  brought  to  trial  on 
the  fi«,t  indictment  for  murder,  incidentally  the 
eastcertainofhisoffenses.   The , my  being  sworn. 
tMe  clerk  proceeded  with  the  first  indictment  for 
murder. nd  declared  that  "the  jurors  of  our  sover- 

W.lhamK.dd.  late  of  I^ndon.  married,  not  having 
the  fear  of  God  before  his  eyes;  but  being  moved 
and  seduced  by  the  Devil  .  .  .  did  make  assault 
in  and  upon  one  Wilham  Moore ..  .  and  that  the 
.foresaid  Wilham  Kidd  with  a  certain  wooden 
budtet.  bound  with  iron  hoops,  of  the  value  of 
ei«*t  pence,  which  he  the  said  William  Kidd  then 
and  there  held  in  his  right  hand,  did  violently, 
felomously.  voluntarily,  and  of  his  malice  afor^ 
thought  beat  and  strike  the  aforesaid  WiUiam 
Moore  m  and  upon  the  right  part  of  the  head  of 
h.m  the  said  William  Moore  then  and  there  upon 
the  high  sea  m  the  ship  aforesaid  and  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  England." 


PRIVATBBSS  AND  WRATES  m 

Several  «ulon  tertified  to  the  ciHmiiirt«ncei  of 
the  murder,  that  Kidd  h«l  called  the  gunner  "• 
ouv  dog"  «,d  Moore  h«l  replied:  "If  I  ««  . 
louv  dog  you  have  made  me  «,.     You  have 
brought  me  to  ruin  and  many  more."    At  thi.. 
^dd  •  temper  being  rou«ed.  he  .truck  Moore  with 
the  bucket,  and  the  gunner  died  the  next  da/  a«  a 
result  of  the  blow.    Considering  the  severity  of 
treatment  of  mutinous  sailors  permitted  to  ships' 
officers  at  that  time,  there  is  litUe  reason  to  think 
Uwt  under  ordinary  circumstances  Kidd  would 
have  been  adjudged  guilty  of  murder  for  a  blow 
struck  in  hot  blood  and  under  provocation;  but 
the  verdict  was  certain  before  the  trial  had  begun 
The  jury  after  an  hour's  consultation  brought  in  a 
verdict  of  guilty,  and  Kidd  was  remanded  to  New- 
gat.  Prison  to  await  trial  for  piracy. 

This  second  trial  took  place  in  May,  1701,  and 
included,  beside  the  Captain,  nine  other  mariners 
charged  with  piracy,  in  that  "they  feloniously 
did  steal,  take  and  carry  away  the  said  merchant 
ship  Quedagh  Merchant  and  the  apparel  and  tackle 
of  the  same  ship  of  the  value  of  four  hundred 
pounds  of  lawful  money  of  England,  seventy 
chests  of  opium,  besides  twenty  bales  of  raw  silk, 
a  hundred  bales  of  calico,  two  hundred  bales  of 


M 


^f. 


'*.  4 


V 


iT 


m  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THB  HCDBQN 

miulinc  two  himdied  And  fifty  balet  of  lugar  ud 
time  balw  of  romeb." 

Kidd'i  defeme  wu  thst  tlie  «hipi  cwptund  wen 
•«!««  under  PVench  pane*  and  thciefore  Uwfid 
prixe.  Mcordiag  to  the  temu  of  hia  r«mmtTn,m 
Thew  puaes,  he  «ud,  lud  been  delivered  inU, 
Bellomonf.  bands.   But  the  Court  made  no  effort 
to  procure  theae  paaiea  or  to  inquire  further  into 
the  matter.    The  jury  was  out  for  a  abort  time 
only  and  brought  in  their  verdict  againat  or  for 
the  mariner.  «q).rately.    AM  but  three  were  found 
guilty.   In  addresnng  them  the  Court  aaid:  "You 
have  been  tried  by  the  law*  of  the  land  and  con- 
victed  and  nothing  now  remain*  but  that  sentence 
be  pawed  according  to  the  law.  And  the  aentence 
of  the  law  is  this:  You  shaU  be  taken  from  the 
place  where  you  are  and  be  carried  to  the  place 
from  whence  you  came  and  from  thence  to  the 
place  of  execution  and  there  be  severaUy  hanged 
by  your  recks  until  you  be  dead.    And  may  the 
Lord  have  mercy  on  your  souls!" 

Captain  Kidd  was  hanged  at  Execution  Dock 
on  May  iS.  1701.  Thus  ended  the  most  famous 
pirate  of  the  age.  His  career  so  impressed  the 
popular  imagination  that  a  host  of  legends  sprang 
up  concerning  him  and  his  treasure  ship,  while 


14    .: 


PRIVATEBBS  AND  FIBATES  its 

innumerable  doteful  IwUad*  were  written  letting 
forth  hif  incredible  depravity.  Yet  it  ia  curioua  to 
condder  that,  had  he  died  a  few  yeaiB  earlier,  he 
would  have  puwd  away  aa  an  honored  dtimi  of 
New  York  and  would  have  been  buried  with  pomp 
and  drcumttanoe  and  the  uraal  kudatory  funeral 
oration. 


•'tl 


I 


:5*:i 


]u\  ) 


% 


I 


CHAPTER  XI 

COU>NUI,     <K.V..BNMa„.     IN     ^«     .IQHTMNTH 
CBNTUBT 

Wkii^  Captain  Edd  was  still  on  the  high  sea, 

the  E«l  of  BeUomont  arrived  in  New  York  (in 
AprJ.  1698).  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  S 
cous.n.  John  Nanfan.  who  had  been  ap^t^ 
laeuUnant-Govemor.     The  citi^ns  greeS  S 

new  Governor  with  every  demonstration  of  delight. 
The  corporation  gave  a  public  banquet  and  offered 
a   eu^gisfc   «idress.     Bellomont   on   his   p^ 
entered  uitohu,  task  with  enthusiasm.    Inthe^ 
Assembly  called  in  1698.  he  spoke  of  the  disorder 
P«va^.ng  ,n  the  province,  left  as  it  was  with  a 
Av,ded  people  an  empty  treasury,  ruined  fortifi- 
cauons  and.  few  half-naked  soldiers.    Bespoke 
o-  the  ,11  repute  of  New  York  as  a  rendezvouffor 
P-ates  and  sa,d:  "It  would  be  hard  if  I  who  come 
before  you  w.th  an  honest  heart  and  a  resolution 


^■^* 


k 


I 


'■^«r'®^ 


t, 


"J^^W  CWlA'WUBni  BELLOMONT 
oponiy  engraving  in  the  Libraiy  of  Hirvard  Univei) 


Till 


'/,r 


1,1 

1 

tii 

W) 


t'/(OHcM;T!iaMo  aula  .iwoo-i  aaKmvn 

the  Eaii     f  {; 


t  ni  snivimjn')  •l.^ls^r<^„„'|^„„•:) 


hi 

HI 


,A 


ilM 


'It  - 


i 


.1 


i 


\t  ' ' 


^■1 


51  >' 


11 


COU)NIAL  GOVERNMENT  isi 

to  be  jurt  to  your  interests,  should  meet  with 
greater  difficulties  in  the  discharge  of  His  Majesty's 
Berviee  than  those  who  have  gone  brfore  me."   He 
declared  it  his  firm  intention  that  there  should  be 
no  more  misapplication  of  the  public  money,  a 
veiled  attack  upon  Fletcher's  grants  of  land  and 
privileges  which  had  become  a  public  scandal.   He 
would,  he  said,  pocket  none  of  the  money  himself 
ror  permit  any  embezzlement  of  it  by  others  and 
promised  exact  accounts  to  be  laid  before  the 
Assembly  "when  and  as  often  as  you  require." 
The  Assembly  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  and  voted 
a  six  years' revenue.     ApparenUy  eveiything  was 
auspicious;  but  the  seed  of  discord  was  already 
sown  by  Bellomonfs  early  espousal  of  the  Leis- 
lerian  cause,  which  was  in  effect  the  cause  of  the 
common  people. 

In  the  Ecclesiastical  Records  of  the  State  an 
account  of  the  disinterment  and  reburial  of  the 
mutilated  remains  of  Leisler  and  of  his  son-in-law 
Milbome  shows  the  determination  of  Bellomont  to 
make  what  reparation  was  possible,  in  addition  to 
the  removal  of  attainder,  for  the  injustice  done. 
Th«  document  closes  with  these  words: 
Yesterday  October  20,  [1698]  the  remabs  of  Comman- 
der Jacob  Leuder  and  of  Jacob  Milborne  [eight  years  and 


fciif 


I 

I; 


w 


»    1 


^ai  it 


188  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

five  months  after  their  execution  and  burial]  were  ex- 
'iumed,  and  interred  again  with  great  pomp  under  our 
[new]  Butch  Church  [in  Garden  Street].  Their  weapons 
and  armorial  ensigns  of  honor  were  there  [in  the  Church] 
hung  up,  and  thus,  as  far  as  it  was  possible,  their  honor 
was  restored  to  them.  Special  permission  to  do  this 
had  been  received  by  his  Honor's  son,  Jacob  Leisler, 
from  his  Majesty.  This  gave  unutterable  joy  to  their 
families  and  to  those  people  who,  under  him,  had  Uken 
up  arms  for  our  blessed  King  William.  With  this  cir- 
cumstance we  trust  that  the  dissensions  which  have  so 
long  harassed  us,  will  also  be  buried.  To  this  end  our 
Right  Honorable  Governor,  my  lord  the  Earl  of  Bello- 
mont,  long  wished  for  by  us,  is  exerting  his  good  offices. 
He  tries  to  dial  impartially  with  all,  acting  with  great 
fairness  and  moderation.  He  has  begun  [his  adminis- 
tration] by  remembering  the  Lord  God;  for  he  has 
ordered  a  day  of  solemn  fasting  and  prayer  throughout 
the  whole  land.  In  a  proclamation  of  great  seriousness, 
he  has  exhorted  the  inhabitants  earnestly  to  pray  for 
these  things  [peace  among  the  people]  to  the  Divine 
Majesty.  We  hope  the  Lord  wi!'  bestow  his  gracious 
blessings  and  grace,  upon  your  Reverences,  with  all  our 
hearts. 

This  proceeding  on  the  part  of  Bellomont,  com- 
bined with  the  appointment  to  office  of  prominent 
Leislerians  and  the  dismissal  of  some  of  their 
opponents,  arrayed  at  once  a  formidable  body  of 
important  citizens  against  him.  Their  numbers 
were  augmented  by  the  people  who  had  profited  by 


COLONIAL  GOVERNMENT  iss 

unlawful  privileges  won  from  Hetcher  and  now 
stripped  from  them  by  Bellomont;  but  the  Gover- 
nor pursued  his  course  undaunted  either  by  the 
threats  or  by  the  taunts  cast  against  him  as  a 
partner  of  the  pirate.  Captain  Kidd.  So  beloved 
was  Bellomont  by  the  people  and  so  strongly  in- 
trenched by  influence  in  the  Government  at  home 
that  he  could  probably  have  carried  through  the 
reforms  which  he  had  at  heart;  but  his  untimely 
death  in  1701,  after  a  brief  rule  of  three  years,  put 
an  end  to  all  his  far-reaching  schemes  for  the  good 
of  the  colonies. 

His  death  was  followed  by  a  condition  approach- 
ing civil  war  between  the  foUowers  of  Leisler  and 
their  foes.  In  1702  Queen  Anne,  who  had  recently 
ascended  the  throne,  appointed  as  Governor  her 
relative,  Edward  Hyde,  Lord  Combuiy.  He  sup- 
pressed the  Leislerians  and  exalted  the  aristocratic 
party,  thereby  restoring  order  but  at  the  same  time 
bringing  odium  upon  his  cause  by  his  personal 
vices.  Combury  was  a  type  of  everything  that  a 
colonial  governor  .should  not  be,  a  scamp,  a  spend- 
thrift, and  a  drunkard.  Relying  upon  his  rela- 
tionship to  Queen  Anne,  he  felt  himself  superior 
to  the  ordinary  restraints  of  civilization.  He  took 
bribes  under  guise  of  gifts,  was  addicted  to  all 


'I 


'f-A 


If- 

I  i  I 


if   }       \ 


184  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

forms  of  debauchery,  and  incidentally  proved  as 
foolish  as  he  was  wicked,  one  of  his  amusements,  it 
is  said,  being  that  of  parading  the  streets  of  New 
York  in  the  evening,  clad  in  woman's  attire  His 
lady  was  as  unpopular  as  he  and  it  is  said  that 
when  the  wheels  of  her  coach  were  heard  approach- 
ing the  house  of  any  of  the  wealthy  citizens  of  New 
York,  the  family  was  hastily  set  to  work  hiding  the 
attractive  ornaments  to  which  her  ladyship  n^ght 
take  a  fancy,  as  she  had  no  compunction  in  asking 
for  them  as  a  gift.  In  an  expedition  to  Albany  in 
1702,  Combury's  vanity  led  him  to  decorate  his 
barge  with  brilliant  colors,  to  provide  new  uniforms 
for  the  crew,  and  generally  to  play  the  peacock  at 
the  expense  of  the  colony.  Rumor  placed  the  simi 
of  his  debts  at  £7000.  Moreover  he  was  charged 
with  the  embezzlement  of  £1500  of  government 
money. 

A  long-suffering  community  finally  demanded 
the  recall  of  Lord  Combury  and  demanded  it  with 
the  same  insistence  which  was  to  make  itself  felt 
in  revolution  in  the  last  half  of  the  century.  As  is 
usual  with  sovereigns  when  any  right  is  demanded 
with  sufiBdent  firmness.  Queen  Anne  was  graciously 
pleased  to  withdraw  Lord  Combury  in  1708.  On 
the  arrival  of  his  successor,  Combury  was  placed 


COLONIAL  GOVERNMENT  18« 

by  indignant  creditom  in  the  chaise  of  the  sheriff, 
and  was  held  in  cust  jdy  until  the  news  of  his  sue 
cession  to  the  earldom  of  Clarendon  reached  thr 
colony.    The  library,  furniture,  and  pictures  of 
the  Queen's  cousin  were  sold  at  auction,  while  the 
«-Govemor  skulked  back  to  Ej^gland  to  makf  the 
best  possible  showing  as  to  his  appropriation  of 
pubhc  moneys  to  private  uses.    We  can  picture 
him  wiping  his  eyes  in  pathetic  deprecation,  as  he 
exchumed:  "If  the  Queen  is  not  pleased  to  pay 
me,  the  having  the  Government  of  New  Jersey, 
which  I  am  persuaded  the  Queen  intended  for  m^ 
benefit,  will  prove  my  ruin!" 

Lord  Lovelace.  Combuiy's  successor,  demanded 
a  permanent  revenue.  But  recent  experience  had 
taught  the  colonists  to  hold  the  financial  power  in 
then-  own  hands  and  they  consented  only  to  an 
annual  appropriation,  thus  making  the  salary 
rf  the  Governor  dependent  on  his  good  conduct. 
What  would  have  been  the  result  of  this  clash  of 
mterests  will  never  be  known,  smce  Lord  Lovelace 
died  on  May  6.  1700.  the  same  day  on  which  the 
act  was  passed. 

Major  Richard  Ingoldesby,  Leisler's  old  enemy, 
now  came  into  power  and  held  the  reins  for  a  few 
months,  until  mismanagement  of  an  expedition 


"H 


''t  (1 


1 


n 


1- 


!l 


IM  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
>g«iiut  Canada  caused  auch  indigiiatioii  that  he 
was  withdrawn  and  Robert  Hunter  became  Gover- 
nor in  1710.  Although  of  humble  Scotch  parentage 
he  had  risen  to  prominence  in  English  society, 
numbering  Swift  and  Addison  among  his  friends' 
and  being  married  to  Lady  Hay,  whose  influence 
had  procured  for  him  successive  positions  of  im- 
portance which  cuhninated  in  this  appointment. 

With  a  view  to  encouraging  the  production  of 
naval  stores  and  obtaining  a  profit  for  the  Eni'lish 
Government.  Hunter  brought  over  at  the  expense 
of  the  Crown  several  thousand  Palatines,  German 
inhabitants  of  tjie  Rhine  vall«gr  harried  by  the 
French,  thereby  adding  anothi  -Jien  element  to 
thecosmopolitan  population.   ITie British  Govern- 
ment appropriated  the  sum  of  £10,000  for  the 
project  and  agreed  not  only  to  transport  the  emi- 
grants but  to  maintain  them  for  a  time  in  return 
for  their  labor.    These  Palatines  settled  on  both 
banks  of  the  Hudson  in  four  villages  on  lands 
belonging  to  Robert  Livingston,  and  in  three  on 
those  belonging  to  the  Crown  and  situated  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river. 

Authorities  differ  so  widely  in  respect  to  the 
treatment  of  these  German  immigrants  that  it 
seems  only  fair  to  present  both  sides.    One  shows 


COLONIAL  GOVEBNMENT  wr 

Hunter  woridng  in  the  interert  of  the  Engligh 
Government  againit  that  of  the  coloqy  and  repn- 
lento  the  movement  as  a  clever  plan  on  the  part  of 
the  Governor  to  stimulate  the  production  of  tar 
and  turpentine,  to  contribute  to  the  government 
mcome.  and  to  prevent  the  manufacture  of  wool, 
linen,  and  cotton  goods,  which  at  that  time  were 
largely  bought  in  England.  When  Hunter  found 
that  the  income  did  not  meet  the  outlay,  it  is  said, 
he  notified  the  newcomers  that  they  "must  shift 
for  themselves  but  not  outside  the  province." 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Governor  asserted  that 
dweUers  in  the  lower  Palatinate  of  the  Rhine, 
when  driven  from  their  homes  by  the  French.' 
begged  the  English  Government  to  give  them' 
homes  in  America;  that  Queen  Anne  graciously 
agreed  that  the  Palatines  should  be  transported  to 
New  York  at  the  expense  of  the  English  witii  the 
understanding  that  they  were  to  work  out  the 
advance  payment  and  also  the  food  and  lodgings 
provided  by  tiie  State  and  by  Livingston;  but  that 
the  Palatines  proved  lazy  and  failed  to  carry  out 
their  contract. 

All  accounts  agree,  however,  in  describing  the 
hard  lot  of  these  unfortunate  exiles.  Their  ocean 
voyage  was  long  and  stormy  witii  much  fatal 


K' 


•^li^i 


% 


^U 


:1 


M^ 


I  ! 


188  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
illMM.   ll>e«t«.el«ctedfortlieir.ettleiiieiiUw«re 
notdedrable.   The  native  jrineww  found  uiwiitod 
to  the  production  of  Ur  in  iMgequantitiet.  Hey 
»oon  diicovered  that  they  wouM  never  be  able 
to  pay  for  their  maintenance  by  .uch  unprofitable 
tabor.   Moreover,  the  pioviaions  given  them  were 
of  mferior  quality;  and  they  were  forced  to  fumirfi 
men  for  an  expedition  againat  Canada  while  their 
women  and  children  were  left  either  to  .tarvation 
or  to  practical  servitude.    In  this  desperate  situa- 
toon  «ome  of  the  Palatine,  turned  from  their  feUow 
Christian,  to  the  native  wvage..  and  their  appeal 
wa.  not  in  vain.    He  Indian,  gave  tiiem  per^ 
miMion  to  «!ttle  at  Schoharie,  and  many  famiKe. 
removed  thither  in  defiance  of  the  Governor,  who 
we.  .till  bent  on  manufacturing  tar  and  pitch. 
But  the  great  majority  remained  in  the  Hudron 
valley  and  eventually  built  homes  on  lands  which 
they  purchased. 

The  climate  of  New  York  disagreed  wiUi  Hun- 
ter, and  his  mental  depression  kept  pace  with  his 
physical  debility.  After  six  years  of  hopelew 
effort,  he  was  obliged  to  admit  the  failure  of  his 
plans  to  produce  naval  stores.  In  1710  he  re- 
ported of  the  locality  that  it  "had  the  finest  air  to 
live  upon;  but  not  for  me";  again  he  says  that 


COLONIAL  GOVERNBIBNT  im 

Swcho  Pkw  I,  .  type  for  hua.  rince  th.t  in  .pite 
^effou«,dohi.dutynodogcouIdbewT«e 
tn-ted    It  »  ewy  to  underrtwd  th.t  .  member 
<J  the  »     ^wift-BolingbnAe  cwJe  in  England 
Jhould  Uve  found  the  «K=i.I  .tmo.phe«  of  early 
New  York  far  f,«m  exhilarating;  and  it  i,  equalKr 
«V  to  comprehend  that  the  pioneer,  of  the  New 
World  resented  hi.  miMnanagement  of  the  c«n. 
P^m  «rf  1711  againrt  C««da  and  hi.  aMartion  of 
the  Enghd.  Government',  right  to  tax  the  colo- 
nirt.  without  the  coMent  of  the  colonial  Govern- 
ment..    But  perhap.   Hunter  and   the  people 
appreciated  each  other  more  than  either  realized 
for  when  he  took  leave  in  1719  hi.  word,  wer^ 
warmly  affectionate  and  hi.  addre«   embodied 
the  exhortation:  "May  no  .trife  ever  happen 
«n.««g.t  you  but  that  laudable  emulation  who 
shall  approve  himself  the  mo.t  zealou.  .ervwit  and 
niMt  dutiful  subject  of  the  best  of  Prince.."   And 
m  re.pon«,  to  thi.  fareweU  addr««  the  colony  of 
Nctt  York   a8.ured    Governor  Hunter  that  he 
had  governed  well  and  wiwly,  "like  a  pmdent 
«Mgi.trate.  like  an  affectionate  parent. "  and  that 
the  good  wirfies  of  his  countrymen  followed  him 
wlierever  he  went. 
It  would  be  pleasant  to  dweU  on  this  picture  of 


i 

P 


f. 


190  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
mutual  confidence  and  regard,  but  the  rude  facts 
of  history  hurry  us  on  to  quite  di£Ferent  scenes. 
William  Burnet,  son  of  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury, 
continued  the  policy  of  his  predecessor,  it  is  trtte, 
and  lived  on  unusually  amicable  terms  with  the 
Assembly.  He  identified  himself  with  the  interests 
of  the  province  by  marrying  the  daughter  of  a 
prosperous  Dutch  merchant  and  by  prohibiting 
the  fur  trade  between  Albany  and  Canada;  yet 
even  Burnet  clashed  with  the  Assembly  on  occa- 
sion. And  when  after  an  interval  William  Cosby 
became  Governor,  the  worst  abuses  of  executive 
power  retumed,>fomenting  quarrels  which  reached 
a  climax  in  the  famous  Zenger  trial. 

The  truth  was  that  no  matter  how  popular  a 
governor  might  be,  clashes  were  bound  to  occur 
between  him  and  the  representatives  of  the  people 
whom  he  governed,  because  they  represented 
divergent  interests.  The  question  of  revenue  was 
an  ever-recurring  cause  of  trouble.  Without 
adequate  funds  from  the  home  Government,  the 
Governor  looked  to  the  Assembly  for  his  salary  as 
well  as  for  grants  to  cany  on  the  administration  of 
the  province.  No  matter  how  absolute  the  au- 
thority conferred  by  his  commission  and  his  in- 
structions, the  Governor  must  bow  to  the  lower 


COLONIAL  GOVERNMENT  191 

house  of  the  provincial  LegisUtuw.  which  held 
the  purse  strings. 

Under    Sloughter,    Fletcher.    Bellomont.    and 
Combury  theA^embly  had  voted  revenues  for  a 
term  of  years.    But  when  Combury  appropriated 
to  his  own  uses  £1000  out  of  the  £1800  granted  for 
the  defense  of  the  frontiers  and  when  in  addition 
he  pocketed  £1500  of  the  funds  appropriated  for 
the  protection  of  themouth  of  the  Hudson,  the 
Assembly  grew  wary.    Thereafter  for  four  succes- 
«yeyears  it  made  only  ammal  ippropriations.  and 
wiserstiU  by  1739,  it  voted  supplies  only  in  definite 
amounts  for  special  purposes.    Short-sighted  the 
Assembly  often  was,  sometimes  in  its  parsimony 
leaving  the  borders  unprotected  and  showing  a 
dwp<«ition  to  take  as  much  and  to  give  as  little  as 
possible -a  policy  that  wa.  fraught  with  grave 
peni  as  the  French  and  Indian  War  drew  on  apace 
The  growing  insubordination  of  the  province 
gave  more  than  one  governor  anxious  thought 
Governor  Hunter  wrote  waraingly  to  friends  in 
England:    "The  colonies    are   infants   at   their 
mother's  breasts  and  will  wean  themselves  when 
they  become  of  age."   And  Governor  Chnton  was 
so  mcensed  by  the  contumacy  of  the  Assembly 
that  he  said  bluntly:    "Every  branch   of  this 


.J 


■ 


?H 


I 


III 


i, » 


.Ji 


198  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
legislature  may  be  criminal  in  the  eyes  of  the  law, 
and  there  is  a  power  able  to  punish  you  and  that 
wiU  punish  you  if  you  provoke  that  power  to  do  it 
by  your  behaviour.  Othenoise  you  mutt  Mnk  your- 
»thet  independent  of  the  crown  cf  Great  Britainl" 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE  ZENGBB  TBIAL 

Among  the  children  of  the  Palatmes  imported  by 
Governor  Hunter  in  1710  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  by 
the  name  of  John  Peter  Zenger.    Instead  of  pri 

ce«hng  to  thePalatinecolony.his  widowed  mother 
andherKttlefamilyremainedinNewYork.   Thtre 
Peter  was  bound  apprentice  to  William  Bradford 
then  a  well-known  print'.r.  for  a  term  of  eight 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  set  up  an  office 
of  bis  own.     He  evidently  found  himself  hard 
pressed  for  the  means  of  living,  since  one  finds  him 
m  1782  applying  to  the  consistory  of  the  Dutch 
Church  of  New  York  and  proposing  that,  since  he 
had  so  long  played  the  organ  without  recompense, 
he  might  take  up  a  volmitaiy  subscription  from 
the  congregation  and  that  the  members  of  the 
conswtoiy  should  head  the  paper  as  an  example 
to  others.    The  consistory  agreed  to  allow  him 
provisionally  the  sum  of  six  pomids.  New  York 


i. 


••'^ 


i 


k4 


ft 


I 


'm 


184  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
currency,  to  be  paid  by  the  church  masters  and 
promised  that  they  would  speak  with  him  fur- 
ther on  the  subject  of  his  seeking  subscriptions  in 
the  congregation,  a  favor  for  which  John  Peter 
was  duly  grateful. 

Governor  William  Cosby,  as  he  drove  in  his 
coach  on  a  Sunday  to  Trinity  Church,  or  as  he 
walked  in  stately  raiment,  attended  by  a  negro 
servant  who  carried  his  prayer-book  on  a  velvet 
cushion,  could  have  little  dreamed  that  the  young 
printer  striding  pKst  him  on  his  way  to  play  the 
organ  in  the  old  Dutch  Church  was  destined  to  be 
the  instrument  6f  His  Excellency's  downfall;  but 
the  time  was  not  far  off  when  this  David,  armed 
only  with  a  blackened  type  of  his  printer's  form, 
was  to  set  forth  against  this  Goliath.  All  flaming 
convictions  have  a  tendency  to  cool  into  cant,  and 
"the  Freedom  of  the  Press"  has  so  long  been  a 
vote-catching  phrase  that  it  is  hard  nowadays  to 
realize  that  it  was  once  an  expression  of  an  ideal 
for  which  men  were  willing  to  die  but  which  they 
scarcely  hoped  to  achieve. 

When  Colonel  Cosby,  former  Governor  of  Min- 
orca, came  over  the  seas  in  1732,  to  become 
Governor  of  New  York,  he  brought  with  him  a 
none  too  savory  reputation.    All  that  he  seemed 


THE  ZENGER  TRIAL  m 

to  have  learned  in  his  former  executive  post  was 
the  art  of  conveying  pubhc  funds  to  private  uses 
Hu  government  in  New  York  sustained  his  m,u- 
tetion:  it  was  as  high-handed  as  it  was  corrupt. 
He  burned  deeds  and  strove  to  overthrow  old  land- 
patents,  in  order  that  fees  for  new  ones  might  find 
their  way  into  his  pocket.  "Cosby's  Manor  "  a 
vast  tract  of  land  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  bore  tes- 
timoiy.  to  the  success  of  his  methods  in  acquiring 

Upon  the  death  of  Cosby's  pr^lecessor,  John 
Montgomene,  in  1731,  Rip  van  Dam.  as  president 
of  the  Council,  had  assumed  control  of  the  affairs 
of  the  province  until  the  arrival  of  the  new  Govern 
nor.    At  the  close  of  his  term,  which  had  lasted  a 

httle  more  thanayear.the  Council  passed  warrants 
giving  Rip  van  Dam  the  salary  and  ^e  fees  of  the 
office  for  the  time  of  his  service.  When  Cosby 
appeared  -^  produced  an  order  from  the  Kin* 
command!  hat  the  perquisites  of  the  Govemo^ 
dunng  the  interregnum  be  equally  divided  be- 
tween him  and  Van  Dam.  On  the  authority  of 
this  document,  Cosby  demanded  half  .>f  the  salanr 
which  Van  Dam  had  received.  "Very  well  " 
answered  the  sUlwart  Dutchman,  "but  always 
provided  that  you  sha,«  with  me  on  the  same 


r 

■I'll 


I»«  OCTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

authority  the  half  of  the  emolument,  which  you 
have  received  during  the  same  period." 

The  greedy  Governor  maintained  that  this  waa 
a  very  different  matter.     Nevertheless  he  was 
somewhat  puzzled  as  to  how  to  proceed  legally  with 
a  view  to  filling  his  purse.    Since  he  was  himself 
Chancellor,  he  could  not  sue  in  chancery.    He  did 
not  dare  to  bring  a  suit  at  common  law,  as  he 
feared  that  a  jury  would  give  a  verdict  age  nst  him. 
Under  these  circumstances  Cosby  took  advantage 
of  a  clause  in  the  commissions  of  the  judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court  which  seemed  to  constitute  them 
Barons  of  the  Exchequer,  and  he  therefore  directed 
that  an  action  against  Van  Dam  be  brought  in  the 
name  of  the  King  before  that  court.     The  Chief 
Justice,  who  had  held  office  for  eighteen  years,  was 
Lewis  Morris.    Van  Dam's  counsel  promptly  took 
exception  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court  and 
Morris  sustained  their  plea,  whereupon  Cosby  re- 
moved Morris  as  Chief  Justice.    Cosby's  party  in- 
cluded De  Lancey,  Philipse,  Bradley,  and  Harrison, 
while  Alexander,  Stuyvesant,  Livingston,  Cad- 
wallader  Colden,  and  most  of  the  prominent  dti- 
zens,  supported  Van  Dam.    The  people  of  New 
York  were  now  awakening  to  the  fact  that  this 
was  no  petty  quarrel  between  two  men  as  to  which 


THE  ZENGER  TBIAL  197 

rf.ouJd  receive  the  l«ger  d,«e  of  govenunent 
money.,  but  that  it  involved  the  much  la»er 
question  of  whether  dti^n.  were  to  be  deX 
^uwe  to  unpartial  court,  in  the  defen«,  of  their 

The  only  paper  publiAed  in  the  province  the 
^e.  Y<nk  Weekly  Oa^,  estab  Jedl'V^ 

wa,enUrelyinCo.bysinterest,andtheVanDan; 
party  seemed  powerless.  They  determined,  how- 
ever, to  strike  at  least  one  blow  for  f ««lom.  and 
as  a  first  step  they  estabhshed  in  173S  a  paper 

^^y,::^"/"^  '''"*  "^^"^y  ''^^^  tote 
^bhshed  by  John  Peter  Zenger.  but  to  be  under 

S^r^r,^  """"•"•  Morris.  Alexander. 
Sm^th.  and  Coldei.  were  the  principal  contributors 
to  the  new  paper,  and  in  a  series  of  articles  they 
vigorously  criticized  the  Governor's  administra- 
tion, particularly  his  treatment  of  Van  Dam.  The 
Governor  snd  Council  in  high  dudgeon  at  once 

*^i  !^''''^*^""°*°**^«P"b>^«'-  They 
asked  the  Assembly  to  join  them  in  prosecu4 
Z«.ger.  but  the  request  was  laid  upon  the  tablj 
The  CouncJ  then  ordered  the  hangman  to  make 
a  pubhc  bonfire  of  four  numbers  of  the  Wee^, 
Jaunua;  but  the  mayor  and  the  aldermen  de- 
dared  the  order  illegal  and  refused  to  allow  it  to 


I 

1 


«M 


i 


I.'  V 


198  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
be  carried  out.  Accoidingly  the  offending  numbers 
of  the  Journal  were  burned  by  a  negro  slave  of  the 
sheriff  in  the  presence  of  Francis  Harrison,  the  re- 
corder, and  some  other  partizans  of  Cosby,  the 
magistrates  declining  to  be  present  at  the  cere- 
mony. Whatever  satisfaction  the  Governor  and 
his  adherents  could  gain  from  the  burning  of  these 
copies  of  the  Journal  was  theirs;  but  their  action 
served  only  to  make  them  both  more  ridiculous 
and  more  despicable  in  the  eyes  of  the  people. 

Not  long  after  this  episode  Zenger  was  arrested 
upon  order  of  the  Council  and  thrown  into  the  jail, 
which  was  at  that  time  in  the  City  Hall  on  the  site 
of  the  present  United  States  Sub-Treasury  building 
on  Wall  Street.  Zenger  was  denied  the  use  of  pens, 
ink,  or  paper.  The  grand  j'lry  refused  to  indict 
him.  But  Cosby's  attorney-general  filed  an  "in- 
formation" against  Zenger  for  "false,  scandalous, 
malicious  and  seditious  libek." 

Public  interest  was  now  transferred  from  Van 
Dam  to  Zenger,  and  the  people  saw  him  as  their 
representative,  robbed  of  his  right  of  free  speech 
and  imprisoned  on  an  "information"  which  was  in 
form  and  substance  an  indictment  without  action 
of  a  grand  jury.  Months  elapsed  while  Zenger  was 
kept  in  prison.   His  counsel.  Smith  and  Alexander. 


THE  ZENGEB  TRIAL  ipg 

attacked  two  judges  of  the  court  befoK  which  he 
wag  to  be  tried,  on  the  ground  that  th«y  were 
"wguUrly  appointed,  the  commissioM  of  two  of 
them.  Chief  Justice  De  Lancey  and  Judge  Philipse, 
running  "during  pleasure"  instead  of  "during 
good  behavior"  and  having  been  granted  by  the 
Governor  without  the  advice  or  consent  of  his 
Council.    The  anger  of  the  judges  thus  assaUed 
was  expressed  by  De  Lancey.  who  replied:  "You 
have  brought  it  to  that  point,  genUemen.  that 
either  we  must  go  from  the  bench  or  you  from  the 
bar,"  wherewith  he  summarily  ordered  the  names 
of  the  two  distinguished  lawyers  stricken  from  the 
list  of  attorneys. 

This  was  obviously  a  heavy  blow  to  Zenger.  as 
the  only  other  lawyer  of  note  in  New  York  was 
retained  in  the  interests  of  Cosby  and  his  faction. 
But  Zenger's  friends  never  ceased  their  determined 
efforts  in  his  behalf,  and  Smith  and  Alexander  re- 
mained active  in  counsel  if  not  in  court.    Mean- 
while the  judges  appointed  an  insignificant  attor- 
ney. John  Chambers  by  name,  to  act  for  Zenger 
and  fancied  that  their  intrigue  was  sure  of  success. 
The  trial  came  on  before  the  Supreme  Court 
sitting  on  August  4.  1735.  De  Lancey  acting 
as  Chief  Justice,  Philipse  as  second  judge,  and 


^ 


-i 


f 


f    I 


I 


•00  DUTCH  AND  EN6U8H  ON  THE  HUDSON 
Biadlqr  as  attomesr-general.  Chambers  pleaded 
"not  guilty"  on  behalf  of  his  client;  but  to  the 
throng  who  crowded  the  court-room  to  rniAica- 
tion,  Zengw's  case  must  have  looked  black  indeed. 
Thare  was  no  question  that  he  had  published  the 
objectionable  articles,  and  according  to  the  Eng- 

lish  law  of  the  day  the  truth  of  a  libel  could  not  be 
set  up  as  a  defense.  It  was  even  some  years  lato' 
that  Lord  Mansfield  upheld  the  amazing  doctrine 
that  "the  gr«?ater  the  truth  the  greater  the  libel." 
A  part  of  the  importance  of  the  Zenger  trial  lies  in 
its  sweeping  awy  in  this  part  of  the  world  the 
possibility  of  so  monstrous  a  theory. 

A  great  and  overwhelming  surprise,  however, 
awaited  the  prosecutors  of  Zenger.  The  secret 
had  been  well  kept  and  apparently  every  one  was 
amazed  when  there  appeared  for  the  defense  one 
Andrew  Hamilton,  a  citizen  of  Philadelphia,  of 
venerable  age  and  the  most  noted  and  able  lawyer 
in  the  colom'es.  From  this  moment  he  became  the 
central  figure  of  the  trial  and  his  address  was 
followed  with  breathless  interest.  He  touched 
upon  his  own  age  and  feebleness  with  consummate 
tact  and  dramatic  effect: 

You  see  that  I  labour  under  the  wt  „ht  of  years,  and  am 
.  borne  down  with  great  infirmities  of  hody ;  yet,  old  and 


THE  ZENGER  TRIAL  Ml 

wMk  ai  I  am,  I  ihould  think  it  my  duty,  if  requiied.  to 
(o  to  the  utmort  [wrt  of  the  ImuI,  where  my  Mrvioe 

couM  be  of  lue  in  awiting  to  quench  the  flMue  rf  pro*, 
cutioni  upon  information  set  on  foot  by  the  government, 
to  deprive  a  people  rf  the  right  of  remonstrating  (and 
complaining  too)  of  the  arbitrary  attempto  of  men  in 
power.    Men  who  injure  and  oppress  the  people  under 
their  administration  provoke  thorn  to  ay  out  and  com- 
plain, and  then  make  that  very  complaint  the  founda- 
tion for  new  oppressions  and  prosecutions.    I  widi  I 
could  say  there  were  no  insUnces  of  this  kind.    But  to 
conclude:  the  question  before  the  court,  and  you,  gentle- 
men of  the  juiy,  is  not  of  small  nor  private  concern;  it 
IS  not  the  cause  of  •  poor  printer,  nor  of  New  Y<ak 
alone,  which  you  are  now  taring.    No!    It  may  in  its 
ransequence  affect  every  freeman  that  Uves  under  a 
British  government  on  the  main  of  America!   It  is  the 
best  cause.    It  is  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  I  make  no 
doubt  but  your  upright  conduct  this  day  will  not  only 
entitle  you  to  the  love  and  esteem  of  your  fdlow-dti- 
aens,  but  every  man  who  prefers  freedom  to  a  life  of 
daveiy  will  bless  and  honour  you,  as  men  who  have 
baflfcd  the  attempt  of  tyranny,  and  by  an  impartial  and 
unoorrupt  verdict  have  laid  a  noble  foundation  for  se- 
curing to  ourselves,  our  posterity,  and  our  neighbors, 
that  to  which  nature  and  the  laws  of  our  country  have 
given  OS  a  right  —  the  liberty  both  of  exposmg  and  op- 
poring  arbitrary  power  ...  by  speaking  and  writing 
truthl 

With  scathing  irony  he  fell  upon  the  theory  that 
truth  was  no  defense  for  libel: 


% 


1^ 


L 


i 


<i '  1 


d 


n 


Jill 


aot  DOTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
If  •  Ubd  is  uodtntood  in  the  large  eiid  unHmited  leiiie 
urged  by  Mr.  Attonejr,  there  it  tewve  ■  writinc  I  know 
that  may  not  be  eidled  •  Ubd,  or  icuoe  My  penon  Mfe 
from  being  called  to  aoooont  ai  a  libeller;  for  Mbeea, 
meek  aa  he  waa,  libelled  Cain,  and  who  ii  it  that  hai  not 
UbeOedthedevUr  For  according  to  Bfr.  Attorney,  it  it 
nojnttificationtotaythatonehatabadnanie.  Ediard 
hat  Hbelled  our  good  King  WOfiam:  Burnet  hat  Hbdied 
among  othert.  King  Charlet  and  King  Jamet;  and 
Rapin  hat  libelled  them  all.  How  mutt  a  man  ipMk  or 
write,  or  what  mutt  he  hear,  read,  or  ting?  Or  when 
mutt  he  laugh,  to  aa  to  be  lecure  from  b^  taken  up 
atalibeller?  I  lincerely  bdieve  that  were  tome  pertont 
to  go  through  the  itreett  of  New  York  nowadayt  and 

read  a  part  of  the  Bible,  if  it  were  not  known  to  be  luch, 
Mr.  Attorney,  with  the  help  of  hit  innuendoei,  would 
eatily  turn  it  into  a  libel.  At  for  inttance,  the  tisteenth 
ymt  of  the  ninth  chapter  of  baiah:  Tht  UadmcStht 
ptopUeatue  them  to  trr,€mdt!^  that  are  ltd  by  Oman 
i**royti.  But  thould  Mr.  Attomqr  go  about  to  m.k. 
thit  a  Ubd.  he  would  treat  it  thut:  "The  leadert  of  the 
P«1>le  (innuendo,  the  governor  and  coundl  of  New 
York)  caute  them  (innuendo,  the  people  of  this  prov- 
ince) to  err,  and  thty  (meaning  the  people  rf  the 
province)  are  dettroyed  (innuendo,  are  deceived  into 
Ae  lots  of  their  Uberty),"  which  it  the  wont  kind 
of  dettruction.  Or,  if  gome  penon  thould  publicly 
lepeat,  in  a  manner  not  pleasing  to  hit  bettert,  the 
tenth  and  deventh  verses  of  the  fifty-sixth  chapter  of 
the  same  book,  there  Mr.  Attorney  would  have  a  large 
fidd  to  dispUy  his  skiU  in  the  artful  applicatk>n  of  hit 
innuendoes.  The  words  are.  "His  watchmen  are  all 
bhnd,  they  are  ignorant;  yes,  thqr  ate  greedy  dogs,  that 


THE  ZBNGBH  TBIAL  MS 

era  iMvcr  have  aMugh."  Bvt  to  make  thnn  •  libd. 
thm  it  aeoording  to  l<r.  Attomqr't  dootrine.  no  moN 
wanting  bat  tin  aid  ofliii  tldU  in  the  right  adapting 
of  Ma  innuendoes.  Aaforin«taoce,"Hiiwat«Anan(b- 
Buendo,  the  governor'!  counea  and  AnemUy)  an  blind; 
thegr  are  ignorant  (mnuendo,  will  not  we  the  dangeroua 
decigns  oTHia  Exceilencjr);  yea  they  (meaning  the  gov- 
ernor and  council)  are  gnedy  doga  which  can  never  have 
enough  (innuendo,  enough  of  riehe*  and  power)." 

Thus  Hamilton  skillfully  appealed  to  the  in- 
dependent principles  of  the  jury.  There  was  no 
note,  satiric,  pathetic,  or  patriotic,  which  he  did 
not  strike.  Overwhelmed  by  the  torrent  of  his 
eloquence,  Bradley,  the  Attorney-General,  scarcely 
attempted  a  reply.  The  Chief  Justice  sUted  that 
the  jury  might  bring  in  a  verdict  on  the  fact  <rf 
publication  and  leave  it  to  the  Court  to  decide 
whether  it  were  libelous.  But  Hamilton  was  far 
too  wary  to  be  caught  thus.  "I  know,  may  it 
please  your  Honor, "  said  he.  "  t>i,  ;.d y  may  do  so; 
but  I  do  likewise  know  that  they  may  do  otherwise. 
I  know  they  have  the  right,  beyond  all  dispute,  to 
determine  both  the  law  and  the  fact,  and  where 
they  do  not  doubt  the  law,  th^r  ought  to  do  so." 
Nevertheless  the  Chief  Justice  charged  the  jury: 

GenUemen  of  the  Jury:    The  great  pams  Mr.  Hamfl- 
ton  has  taken,  to  show  you  how  little  regard  juries  are 


V 


J-, 


l^\ 


1 


\s 


«04  DCTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
to  pay  to  the  opinion  of  the  judges,  and  his  insuting  so 
much  upon  the  conduct  of  some  judges  in  triak  of  this 
kind,  18  done,  no  doubt,  with  a  design  that  you  shouU 
taJce  but  very  little  notice  of  what  I  mi^t  say  upon  this 
occasion.  I  shall,  therefore,  only  obserre  to  you  that, 
as  the  facte  or  words  in  the  information  are  confessed; 
the  only  thing  that  can  come  in  question  before  you  is 
whether  the  words  set  forth  in  the  information,  make  a 
hbd.  And  that  is  a  matter  of  law,  no  doubt,  and  which 
you  may  leave  to  the  Court. 

But  the  show  of  authority  and  the  attempt  at 
allurement  were  all  in  vain.  The  jury  took  but  a 
few  moments  to,deHberate  and  returned  with  the 
verdict  of  "not  guilty."  The  roar  of  applause 
which  shook  the  court-room  was  more  than  a  trib- 
ute to  the  eloquence  of  the  aged  counselwho  had  ac- 
cepted an  unpopular  case  without  fees  because  he 
felt  that  he  was  working  for  the  cause  of  freedom. 
It  was  more  than  a  tribute  to  the  poor  printer  who 
had  risked  everything  in  the  same  cause.  It  was 
the  spirit  of  the  barons  at  Runnymede,  of  the  Long 
Parliament,  of  the  Revolution  of  1688,  of  Patrick 
Henry  of  Virginia  when  he  cried : "  Give  me  liberty 
or  give  me  death!" 

Hie  Court,  divided  between  wrath  and  surprise, 
strove  to  check  the  wave  of  applause  and  threat- 
ened with  imprisonment  the  leader  of  the  cheers; 


ii  H 


THE  ZENGER  TBIAL  Ms 

but  a  son-in-law  of  ex-Chief  JusUce  Lewis  Morris 
succeeded  in  making  himself  heard,  and  declared 
that  cheers  were  as  lawful  there  as  in  Westminster 
Hall,  where  they  had  been  loud  enough  over  the 
acquittal  of  the  seven  bishops  in  1688.  Upon  this 
the  applause  broke  out  again,  and  Hamilton  was 
acclaimed  the  people's  champion.  A  dinner  was 
given  in  his  honor  and  the  freedom  of  the  dty 
was  bestowed  upon  him.  When  he  entered  his 
barge  for  the  return  journey  to  Philadelphia,  flags 
waved,  cannon  boomed,  and  hurrahs  resounded 
from  all  quarters. 


J! 


CHAPTER  Xm 


THB  NEOBO  PL0T8 


As  early  as  the  eighteenth  centuiy  New  York  had 
become  a  cosmopolitan  town.  Its  populatioi^  con- 
tained not  only  Dutch  and  English  in  nearly  equal 
numbers,  but  also  French,  Swedes,  Jews,  Negroes, 
and  sailors,  travelers  from  every  land.  The  settled 
portion  of  the  city,  according  to  a  map  of  1729, 
extended  as  far  north  as  Beekman  Street  on  the 
East  Side  and  as  far  as  Trinity  Church  on  the  West 
Side.  A  few  blocks  beyond  the  church  lay  Old 
Wind  Mill  Lane  touching  King's  Farm,  which  was 
still  open  country.  Here  Broadway  shook  off  all 
semblance  to  a  town  thoroughfare  and  became  a 
dusty  country  road,  meeting  the  post-road  to 
Boston  near  the  lower  end  of  the  rope  walk.  "The 
dttie  of  New  York  is  a  pleasant,  well-compacted 
place,"  wrote  Madam  Knight,  who  joum^ed  on 
horseback  from  Boston  over  this  post-road  and 
who  recorded  her  experiences  in  an  entertaining 


H  K 


THE  NEGBO  PLOTS  207 

journal.  '"n,e  buildings  brick  generally,  veiy 
•tately  and  high,  though  not  altogether  like  ours 
in  Boston.  Tie  bricks  in  some  of  the  houses 
are  of  divers  coullers  and  laid  in  checkers,  being 
glazed  look  very  agreeable.  The  inside  of  them  are 
neat  to  admiration." 

Besides  its  welcoming  houses  set  among  spread- 
mg  treos,  New  York  possessed  public  buildings  of 
digmty  and  distinction.  There  was  Trinity  Church 
whose  tall  steeple  was  one  of  the  first  landmarks  to 
catch  the  traveler's  eye  as  he  journeyed  down  the 
nver  from  Albany.    The  new  City  Eall.  dating 
from  Bellomont's  time  and  standing  on  a  site  at 
tile  corner  of  WaU  and  Broad  Streets,  given  oy 
Colonel  Abraham  de  Peyster.  w^,  also  a  source  rf 
pnde.    With  its  substantial  wings  and  arched  col- 
onnade in  the  center  it  was  quite  imposing.   Here 
tile  Assembly.  Council,  and  Court  sat.    Here,  too 
were  offices  and  a  library.   But  die  cellar  was  used 
as  a  dungeon  and  ti»e  attic  as  a  common  prison 

New  markets  and  wharves  told  of  the  growing 
commerceoftiiecityandprovince.  Onevetyhand 
were  evidences  of  luxurious  living.  There  wei« 
taverns  and  coffee-houses  where  gold  flowed  in 
abundant  streams  from  tiie  pockets  of  pirates  and 
smugglers,  and  in  tiie  streets  crest-emblazoned 


11 


i 

I 


«08  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
family  coaches,  while  sedan  chairs  were  borne  by 
negro  slaves  along  the  narrow  brick  pathways  in 
the  center  of  the  town.  The  dress  of  the  people 
told  the  same  story  of  prosperity.  The  streets 
of  the  fashionable  quarter  around  Trinity  Church 
were  fairly  ablaze  with  gay  costumes.  Men  of 
fashion  wore  powdered  wigs  and  cocked  hats,  cloth 
or  velvet  coats  reaching  to  the  knee,  breeches,  and 
low  shoes  with  buckles.  They  carried  swords, 
sometimes  studded  with  jewels,  and  in  their  gloved 
hands  they  held  snuS-boxes  of  costiy  material  and 
elaborate  design.  The  ladies  who  accompanied 
them  were  no  less  gaily  dressed.  One  is  described 
as  wearing  a  gown  of  purple  and  gold,  opening  over 
a  black  velvet  petticoat  and  short  enough  to  show 
green  Hlk  stockings  and  morocco  shoes  embroidered 
in  red.  Another  wore  a  flowered  green  and  gold 
gown,  over  a  scarlet  and  gold  petticoat  edged  with 
silver.  Everywhere  were  seen  straD^  fabrics  of 
oriental  design  coming  from  the  holds  of  mysteri- 
ous ships  which  unloaded  surreptitiously  along  the 
water  front. 

The  members  of  one  class  alone  looked  on  all  this 
prosperous  life  with  sullen  discontent  —  the  negro 
slaves  whose  toil  made  possible  the  leisure  of  their 
owners.    These  strange,  uncouth  Africans  seemed 


THE  NEGBO  PLOTS  2o» 

out  of  place  in  New  York,  and  from  early  times 
tiqr  had  exhibited  resentment  and  hatred  toward 
tfie  governing  classes,  who  in  turn  looked  upon 
them  with  distrust.    This  smoldering  discontent 
of  the  blacks  aroused  no  Kttle  uneasiness  and  led 
to  the  adoption  of  kws  which,  especially  in  the 
aties.  were  marked  by  a  brutality  quite  out  of 
keepmg  with  the  usual  moderation  of  the  colony 
men  Mrs.  Grant  wrote  later  of  negro  servitude  in 
Albany  as  "slavery  softened  into  a  smile."  she 
^e  in  the  first  place  from  a  mirrow  observation 
of  hfe  m  a  cultivated  family,  and  in  the  second 
place  from  scant  knowledge  of  the  events  which 
had  preceded  the  kind  treatment  of  the  negroes. 
In  1684  an  ordinance  was  passed  declaring  thatno 
negroes  or  Indian  slaves  above  the  number  of  f  our 
should  meet  together  on  the  Lord's  Day  or  at  any 
other  tmie  or  at  any  place  except  on  their  master's 
service.    They  were  not  to  go  armed  with  guns 
swords,  clubs,  or  stones  on  penalty  of  ten  lashes  at 
the  whipping-post.    An  act  provided  that  no  slave 
shouldgo  about  the  streets  after  nightfall  anywhere 
south  of  the  Collect  without  a  lighted  lantern  "so 
M  the  light  thereof  could  be  plainly  seen."   A  few 
years  later  Governor  Combuiy  ordered  the  jus- 
tices of  thr  peace  in  King's  County  to  seize  and 


i 


1 


I 


If 


810  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
apprehend  all  negroes  who  had  assembled  them- 
selves UD  a  riotous  manner  or  had  absconded  .'n)m 
their  masters. 

In  1712,  during  the  Administration  of  Governor 
Robert  Hunter,  a  group  of  negroes,  perhaps  forty 
in  number,  formed  a  plot  which  justified  the  terror 
of  their  masters,  though  it  was  so  mad  that  it 
could  have  originated  only  in  savage  minds.  These 
blacks  planned  to  destroy  all  the  white  people  of 
the  city,  then  numbering  over  six  thousand.  Meet- 
ing in  an  orchard  the  negroes  set  fire  to  a  shed  and 
then  lurked  about  in  the  shadows,  armed  with 
every  kind  of  weapon  on  which  they  could  lay 
hands. 

As  the  negroes  had  expected,  all  the  citizens  of 
the  neighborhood,  seeing  the  conflagration,  came 
running  to  the  spot  to  fight  the  flames.  The  blacks 
succeeded  in  killing  nine  men  and  wounding  many 
more  before  the  alarm  reached  the  fort.  Then  of 
course  the  afFair  ended.  The  slaves  fled  to  the 
forests  at  the  northern  end  of  the  island;  but  the 
soldiers  stationed  sentries  and  then  hunted  down 
the  negroes,  beating  the  woods  to  be  sure  that  none 
escaped.  Six  of  the  negroes,  seeing  that  their  doom 
was  sealed,  killed  themselves,  and  the  fate  of  the 
captives  showed  that  they  well  knew  what  mercy 


THE  NEGRO  PLOTS  m 

to  expect  at  the  hands  of  the  enraged  whites. 
Twenty^ne  were  put  to  death,  one  being  broken 
on  the  wheel  and  several  burned  at  the  stake,  while 
the  rest  were  hanged. 

After  this  experience  of  the  danger  attending  the 
holding  of  slaves,  the  restrictions  upon  the  negroes 
grew  even  more  irksome  and  the  treatment  they 
received  more  that  of  outcasts.  For  instance,  a 
slave  must  be  buried  by  daylight,  without  piu- 
bearers  and  with  not  more  than  a  dozen  negroes 
present  as  mourners. 

In  spite  of  bright  spots  in  the  picture  the  outlook 
grew  constantly  darkw;  a  mistrust  ready  to  de- 
velop on  slight  provocation  into  terror  perturbed 
the  whites;  and  every  rumor  was  magnified  till 
there  reigned  a  panic  as  widespread  as  that  caused 
by  the  reports  of  witchcraft  in  New  England.    At 
length  in  1741  the  storm  burst.    One  March  night, 
while  a  gale  was  sweeping  the  city,  a  fire  was  dis- 
covered on  the  roof  of  the  Governor's  house  in  the 
fort.   Church  bells  sounded  the  alarm  and  fironen 
and  engines  hurried  to  the  spot;  but  it  was  hope- 
less to  try  to  extinguish  the  flames,  which  spread  to 
the  chapel  and  to  the  office  of  the  secretary  over 
the  fort  gate,  where  the  records  of  the  colony  were 
stored.    The  barracks  then  caught  fire,  and  in  a 


/ 


t  i 


\\. 


818  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
little  over  an  hour  everything  in  the  fort  wu  des- 
troyed, the  hand-grenades  exploding  aa  they 
caught  foe  and  spreading  destruction  in  every 
direction. 

A  month  later  a  foe  broke  out  at  night  near  the 
Vlei  Market.  A  bucket  brigade  was  formed  and 
the  &«  was  extinguished.  On  the  same  night  the 
loft  in  a  Louse  on  the  west  side  of  the  town  was 
found  to  be  in  flames,  and  coals  were  discovered 
between  two  straw  beds  occupied  by  a  negro.  The 
next  day  coab  were  found  under  the  coach-house 
of  John  Murray  on  Broadway,  and  on  the  day 
following  a  &e  broke  out  again  near  the  Vlei 
Market.  Thus  the  townsfolk  were  made  certain 
that  an  incendiary  plot  was  on  foot.  Of  course 
every  one's  thoughts  flew  to  the  negro  slaves  as 
the  conspirators,  especially  when  a  Mrs.  Earle 
announced  that  she  had  overheard  three  negroes 
threatening  to  bum  the  town. 

The  authorities  were  as  much  alarmed  as  the 
populace  and  at  once  leaped  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  blame  for  the  incendiarism,  of  which  tl.ey 
scarcely  paused  to  investigate  the  evidence,  was 
to  be  divided  between  the  Roman  Catholics  and 
the  negroes,  who  without  reasonable  grounds  had 
so  long  constituted  their  chief  terror. 


-    fr 


SEW  rORK  L\  1731 


I 


!' 


<W  DITCH  WD  KNCl.ISH  ON  TlIK  HOliSON 

liltlf  ovor  at,  '  ■:  •■      ,,  i;,e  fort  was  <les- 

l'-'\v<'<l,    t},.  ;.i.Kling    as    they 

^■•'"'K'''  i>i     >;iii!,'   <ii'slriiction   in   every 

Lit  .a  ni,'lit  near  the 
^"  1  Hlld 


1 


til     ■ 

ill 


Ld 
[|[(|. 


ne,\'  (lay  ,  <,.,k  ... .  r.   fo,  ...1  undtT  iljc  rnnch  hoUM- 
of  John  .\!i-  •  -    ,    ;  .  ,,,a  o„   t>n,  jaj. 

followins  a  :  ,;,,,„.  the  Vlei 

Markf!.  Thu.'-  ilic  lowii.iMik  wer-  :iind<-'  certain 
that  Ml  inceTii!:;;,v  -.|o'  .»...  „t)  foot.  Of  course 
i-vcry  one's  thi,  .,/.-.i .  !!,■«•  i,,  ihf  ni-gio  slaves  a,, 
'.e  (•orispirafor>(  .-. ;  e;i.::iy  v-'vm  ,,  Mrs.  fCarh 
announ.wl  that  she  had  overhefirii  thrive  negroes 
threatening  to  burn  the  town. 
The  authorities  were  as  ii)»e)i  .iLirme.1  a.s  th< 

populace  anil  at  once  leaped  ta  the  <  oik  lii.sion  that 

the  blame  for  th"  innntiiiin     ,,  of  ahich  they 
,  scarcely  paij.';i-<l  to  invcstit'i.t-  the  evidence,  wa<i 

to  be  divided  between  th,-  Ui:.->iaii  Cufholies  an<i 

the  negroes,  who  witho'!' 

so  long  oonstitiUwl  theii     ■ 


/ 


k 


il 


THE  NEOBO  PLOTS  sis 

The  Common  Council  offered  pMdon  wid  • 
rewaid  of  one  hundted  pounds  to  any  conqtintor 
who  would  reveal  the  story  of  the  plot  and  the 
names  of  the  criminals  involved.    Under  the  in- 
fluence  of  this  offer  one  Maiy  Burton,  a  servant 
in  the  employ  of  Hughson.  the  Uvern-keeper. 
•ccused  her  master,  her  mistress,  their  daughter, 
and  a  woman  of  evil  repuUtion  known  as  Peggy 
Carey,  or  Kerry,  as  weU  as  a  number  of  negroes, 
of  being  implicated  in  the  plot.  She  said  that  the 
negroes  brought  stolen  goods  to  the  Uvem  and 
were  protected  by  Hughson,  who  had  planned  with 
them  the  burning  and  plundering  of  the  dty  and 
the  Kberation  of  the  slaves.    On  this  unsupported 
evidence  Peggy  Carey  and  a  number  of  negroes 
were  condemned  to  execution,  and  under  tenor  of 
d«»th,  or  encouraged  by  the  hope  of  pardon,  these 
prisoners  made  numerous  confessions  implicating 
one  another,  until  by  the  end  of  August  twenty- 
four  whites  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  n^roes 
had  been  imprisoned.     Four  whites,  induding 
Hughson  and  P^gy  Carey,  were  executed;  four- 
teen  negroes  were  bumed  at  the  stake;  eighteen 
were  hanged,  seventy-one  transported,  and  the 
remainder  pardoned  or  discharged. 
Accusations  were  also  made  that  the  Boman 


r 


r 


if 


I 


''i 


814  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 
CathoKcs  had  stirred  up  the  plot;  and  persona  of 
reputation  and  standing  were  accused  of  com- 
plicity. The  effect  of  the  popular  panic,  which 
rendered  impossible  the  cahn  weighing  of  evidence 
and  extinguished  any  sense  of  proportion,  is  seen 
in  the  letters  of  Governor  George  Clarke.  On 
June  80, 1741,  he  writes  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  as 
follows: 

The  fatal  fire  that  consumed  the  buildings  in  the  fort 
and  great  part  of  my  substance  (for  my  loss  is  not  less 
Uian  two  thousand  pounds),  did  not  happen  by  scd- 
dent  as  I  at  firs^  apprehended,  but  was'kindled  by 
design,  in  the  execution  of  a  horrid  Conspiniqr  to  bum 
it  and  the  whole  town,  and  to  Massacre  the  people;  as 
appears  evidently  not  only  by  the  Confession  of  the 
N^ro  who  set  fire  to  it,  in  some  part  of  the  same  gutter 
where  the  Plumber  was  to  work,  but  also  by  the  testi- 
mony of  several  witnesses.    How  many  Conspirators 
there  were  we  do  not  yet  know;  every  day  produces  new 
discoveries,  and  I  apprehend  that  m  the  town,  if  the 
truth  wCTe  known,  there  are  not  many  innocent  Negro 
men.  ...    I  do  myself  the  honor  to  send  your  Lord- 
ships the  minutes  taken  at  the  tryal  of  Quack  who 
burned  the  fort,  and  of  another  Negro,  who  was  tryed 
with  him,  and  their  confession  at  the  stake;  with  some 
examinaUons.  whereby  your  Lordships  will  see  their 
designs;  it  was  ridiculous  to  suppose  that  they  could 
keep  po-3ession  of  the  town,  if  they  had  destroyed  the 
white  people,  yet  the  mischief  they  would  have  done  m 
pursuit  of  their  intention  would  nevertheless  have  been 


THE  NEGRO  PLOTS  jia 

great....    Whether,  or  how  far.  the  hand  of  popery 
has  been  in  thii  hellish  conspiney,  I  cannot  yet  dia- 
cover;  but  there  is  room  to  suspect  it,  by  what  two  of 
the  Ni^roes  have  confessed,  viz:  that  soon  after  th«y 
were  spoke  to,  and  had  coBaent<>d  to  be  parties  to  it, 
they  had  some  checks  of  conscience,  which  they  said! 
wouM  not  suffer  them  to  bum  houses  and  fciU  the  White 
people;  whereupon  those  who  drew  them  into  the  con- 
8pira<7  told  them,  there  was  no  sin  or  wickedness  in  it 
and  that  if  they  would  go  to  Hujon's  [Hughson's]  house) 
thqr  should  find  a  man  who  would  satisfy  them;  but 
they  say  they  would  not,  nor  did  go.    Maigaret  Keny 
[Ker^]  was  supposed  to  be  a  papist,  and  it  is  suspected 
that  Huson  and  his  wife  were  brought  over  to  it.   There 
wia  in  town  some  time  ago  a  man  who  is  said  to  be  a 
Romish  Priest,  who  used  to  be  at  Huson's  but  has  dis- 
appeared ever  since  the  discoveiy  of  the  conspiracy 
and  is  not  now  to  be  found. 

Later  in  the  summer  the  Governor  recorded  his 
suspicions  as  follows: 

We  then  thought  it  [the]  Hot  was  projected  only  by 
Huson  [Hughson]  and  the  Negroes;  but  it  is  now  ap- 
pwent  that  the  hand  of  popery  is  in  it,  for  a  Romish 
Fnest  havmg  been  tryed.  was  upon  f  uU  and  dear  evi- 
dence convicted  of  having  a  deep  share  in  it.  . 
Where,  by  whom,  or  in  what  shape  this  plot  was  fi^ 
projected  is  yet  undiscovered;  that  which  at  present 
seems  most  probable  is  that  Huson,  an  indigent  fellow 
of  a  vile  character,  casting  in  his  thoughts  how  to  mend 
his  circumstances,  inticed  some  NetToes  to  rob  their 
Masters  and  to  bring  the  stolen  [goods]  to  him  on 


r-  ] 


/ 


i'l 

i 


816  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

promue  of  reward  when  thqr  were  sold;  but  seeing  that 
by  this  pilfering  trade  riches  did  not  flow  into  him  fast 
enough,  and  finding  the  Negroes  fit  instrumenU  tot  any 
villainy,  he  then  fell  upon  the  schemes  of  burning  the 
fort  and  town,  and  murdering  the  people,  as  the  speed- 
iest way  to  enrich  himself  and  them,  and  to  gain  their 
freedom,  for  that  was  the  Nqjroes  main  inducement. 
...    The  conspirators  had  hopes  given  them  that  the 
Spaniards  would  come  hither  and  join  with  them  early 
in  the  Spring;  but  if  they  failed  of  coming,  then  the  busi- 
ness was  to  be  done  by  the  Conspirators  without  them; 
many  of  them  were  christen'd  by  the  Priest,  absolved 
from  all  their  past  sins  and  whatever  th«y  should  do  in 
the  Hott;  many  of  them  sworn  by  him  (others  by 
Huson)  to  bum  and  destroy,  and  to  be  secret;  wherem 
they  were  but  too  punctual;  how  weak  soever  the 
scheme  may  appear,  it  was  plausible  and  strong  enough 
to  engage  and  hold  the  Negroes,  and  that  was  all  that 
the  Priest  and  Huson  wanted;  for  had  the  fort  taken 
fire  in  the  night,  as  it  was  intended,  the  town  was  then 
to  have  been  fired  in  several  places  at  once;  in  which 
confusion  much  rich  plunder  might  have  been  got  and 
concealed;  and  if  they  had  it  in  view  too,  to  serve  the 
enemy,  they  could  not  have  done  it  more  effectually; 
for  this  town  being  laid  in  ashes  his  Majesties  forces  in 
the  West  Indies  might  have  suffered  much  for  want  of 
provisions,  and  perhaps  been  unable  to  proceed  upon 
any  expedition  or  piece  of  service  from  whence  they 
might  promise  themselves  great  reward;  I  doubt  the 
business  is  pretty  nigh  at  an  end.  for  since  the  Priest 
has  been  apprehended,  and  some  more  vhite  men 
named,  great  industiy  has  been  used  throughout  the 
town  to  discredit  the  witnesses  and  prejudice  the  people 


THE  NEGRO  PLOTS  817 

agaiiist  them;  and  I  am  told  it  has  had  in  a  great  measure 
it«  intended  effect;  I  am  sorry  for  it,  for  I  do  not  think 
we  are  yet  got  near  the  bottom  <rf  it,  where  I  doubt  the 
principal  consirirators  lie  concealed. 

With  the  collapse  of  the  excitement  through  its 
own  excess,  ends  the  history  of  the  great  negro 
"plot."  Whether  it  had  any  shadow  of  reality  has 
never  been  determined.  Judge  Horsmanden,  who 
sat  as  one  of  the  justices  during  the  trials  growing 
out  of  the  so-called  plots,  compiled  later  a  record 
of  examinations  and  alleged  confessions  whereby 
he  sought  to  justify  the  course  of  both  judges  and 
juries;  but  the  impression  left  by  his  report  is  that 
panic  had  paralyzed  the  judgment  of  even  the 
most  honest  white  men,  while  among  the  negroes 
•*  still  greater  toror,  combined  with  a  wave  <rf 
J,  steria,  led  to  boundless  falsification  and  to  num. 
berlcM  luqustified  accusations. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


snt  wnxiAU  johmson 

The  story  of  the  French  and  Indian  waw  on  our 
bolder  does  not  fall  within  the  scope  of  this  chron- 
icle; but  in  order  to  understand  the  development 
of  New  York  we  must  know  something  of  the  con- 
ditions which  prevailed  in  the  province  during  that 
troubled  epoch.   The  penurious  policy  pursued  by 
the  Dutch  and  continued  by  the  English  left  the 
colony  without  defenses  on  either  the  northern 
or  southern  boundaries.     For  a  long  time  the 
settlers  found  themselves  bulwarked  against  the 
French  on  the  north  by  the  steadfast  friendship  of 
the  "Six  Nations,"  comprising  the  Mohawks,  the 
Oneidas,  the  Onondagas,  the  Cayugas,  the  Jenecas, 
and  the  Tuscaroras;  but  at  last  these  trusty  allies 
began  to  feel  that  the  English  were  not  doing  their 
share  in  the  war.    The  hick  of  military  preparation 
in  New  York  was  inexcusable.    The  niggardliness 
of  the  Assembly  alienated  successive  governors  and 

(18 


MR  WILLUM  JOHNSON  S19 

justified  Ointon's  assertion:  "It  you  deny  me  the 
necessary  supplies  aU  my  endeavors  must  become 
fruitless.  I  must  wash  my  own  hands  and  leave 
at  your  doors  the  blood  of  innocent  people." 

When  the  Indians  under  the  leadership  of  the 
French  actually  took  the  warpath,  the  colonists 
at  last  awoke  to  their  peril.  Upon  caU  of  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor De  Lancey.  acting  under  instruc- 
tions of  the  Lords  of  Trade,  aU  the  colonies  north 
of  the  Potomac  except  New  Jersey  sent  com- 
missioners to  a  congress  at  Albany  in  June.  1704, 
to  plan  measures  of  defense  and  of  alliance  with 
the  Six  Nations. 

Albany  was  still  a  placid  little  Dutch  town. 
Mrs.  Grant  of  Laggan  in  Scotland,  who  visited 
Albany  in  her  girlhood,  wrote  of  it  afterward  with 
a  gentle  suavity  which  lent  glamour  to  the  scenes 
which  she  described.  She  pictures  for  us  a  little 
town  in  which  every  house  had  its  garden  at  the 
rear  and  in  front  a  shaded  stoop  with  seats  on 
either  side  where  the  family  gathered  to  enjoy  the 
twilight.  "Each  family  had  a  cow,  fed  in  a  com- 
mon pasture  at  the  end  of  the  town.  In  the 
evening  they  returned  all  together,  of  their  own  ac- 
cord, with  their  tinkling  belb  hung  at  their  necks, 
along  the  wide  and  grassy  street,  to  their  wonted 


m  DUTCH  AND  ENGU8H  ON  THB  HUDSON 
■heltering  trees,  to  be  milked.  At  one  door  were 
young  matroM.  at  another  the  elden  of  the  people 
atathird  the  youths  and  maiden.,  gaily  chatting  ot 
«nging  together,  while  the  children  played  around 
the  trees,  or  waited  by  the  cows  for  the  chief  in- 
gredient  of  their  frugal  supper.  wUch  they  gener- 
aUy  ate  sitting  on  the  steps  in  the  open  air." 

The  court-house  of  Albany  to  which  the  com- 
missioners journeyed  by  boat  up  the  Hudson  is 
described  by  Peter  Kahn.  a  Swedish  traveler  and 
«eientist.  as  a  fine  stone  building  by  the  riverwde. 
three  stories  high  with  a  smaU  steeple  containing 
•  bell,  and  topped  by  a  gilt  ball  and  weather-vane 
From  the  engraved  print  which  has  come  down  to 

us,  it  seems  a  barren  barrack  of  a  building  with  an 
entrance  quite  inadequate  for  the  men  of  distinc- 
tion who  thronged  its  halls  on  this  memorable 
occasion. 

In  this  congress  at  Albany.  Benjamin  Franklin 
from  Pennsylvania  and  William  Johnson  of  New 
York  were  the  dominating  figures.  The  famous 
plan  of  union  which  Franklin  presented  has  some- 
times made  historians  f  oiget  the  services  rendered 
by  this  redoubtable  Colonel  Johnson  at  a  mo- 
ment when  the  friendship  of  the  Six  Nations  was 
hanging  in  the  balance.    Though  gifts  had  been 


SIB  WnXIAM  JOHNSON  m 

pwpWBd  and  •  general  invJuticm  had  been  .eiit. 
only  •  Imndred  and  fifty  warri«8  appeued  at  Al- 
«>«»y  and  they  held  themaelve.  aloof  withadistnist 
that  waaahnort  contempt  "Look  at  the  French!" 
excbimed  Hendridc.  the  gieat  chief  of  the  Mo- 
hawi*    "They  are  men.    Hwy  are  fortifying 
eveiy^vhere;  but.  we  are  ashamed  to  «y  it,  you 
are  aU  like  women  -  bare  and  open  without  any 
fortification.."  Inthi.cri«.aUthecommiMioner» 
deferred  to  William  Johnson  aa  the  one  man  who 
enjoyed  the  complete  confidence  of  the  Six  Nations 
It  was  he  who  formulated  the  Indian  policy  of  the 
congress. 

He  had  been  bom  in  Ireland.    His  mother  was 
Anne  Warren,  sister  to  Obtain  Peter  Warren,  who 
"served  with  repuUtion"  in  the  Eoyal  Navy  and 
•fterward  became  Knight  of  the  Bath  and  Vice- 
Admiral  of  the  Red  Squadron  of  the  British  Fleet 
Captain  Warren  was  less  than  a  dozen  years  older 
than  his  nephew,  whom  he  regarded  with  affec- 
ticmate  interest    He  described  him  as  "a  spritely 
boy  weU  grown  of  good  parts  and  keen  wit  but 
most  onruly  and  sfcreperous. "  and  the  sailor  added : 
"I  see  the  making  of  a  strong  man.    I  shall  keq) 
niy  weather  eye  on  the  lad." 
The  result  of  this  observation  was  so  favorable 


8M  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  IHB  HUDSON 

that  the  captain,  who  was  on  itatioo  in  America, 
«ent  for  Willianr.  Johnaon  to  come  out  and  aid  him 
in  the  development  of  a  real  esUte  ventuie.    A 
large  tract  of  land  near  the  Mohawk  River  had 
come  into  Warren's  possession,  and  as  a  sailor 
Warren  naturally  found  i'iiculty  in  superintend- 
ing Jand  at  what  was  then  -  veek's  joumqr  from 
the  seacoast.    "Billy"  wt .  ,i .  choice  as  an  assis- 
tant, and  the  boy,  who    Yas  then  twenty-three 
years  old,  left  the  Old  World  and  in  1738  reached 
the  new  pUntation  where  his  life-work  lay  before 
him.     For  this  he  was  admirably  equipped  by  his 
Irish  inheritance  of  courage,  tact,  and  humor,  by 
his  study  of  English  law,  and  by  a  facility  in 
acquiring  languages  which  enabled  him  to  master 
the  Mohawk  tongue  in  two  years  after  his  arrival 
in  New  York. 

The  business  arrangement  between  Captain 
Warren  and  his  nqjhew  provided  that  Johnson 
should  form  a  settlement  on  his  uncle's  land  known 
as  Warrensbush,  at  the  juncture  of  Schoharie  Kill 
and  the  Mohawk,  that  he  should  sell  farms,  over- 
see settlers,  dear  and  hedge  fields,  "girdle"  trees 
(in  order  to  kill  them  and  let  in  the  sun),  pur- 
chase supplies,  and  in  partnership  with  Warren 
establish  a  village  store  to  meet  the  necessities 


i'i 
I 


SIB  WILLIAM  JOHNSON  an 

of  the  new  coloniits  and  to  aerve  a*  a  trading- 
station  with  the  Indiana.  Incompenaationforhia 
■ervicea  he  waa  to  be  allowed  to  cultivate  a  part  of 
the  land  for  himaetf,  thougb  it  ia  hard  to  imagine 
what  time  or  atrength  could  have  been  left  for 

farther  exertiona  after  the  fuWlhnent  <rf  the  oneroua 
dutJea  marked  out  for  him. 

A  few  years  after  his  arrival  at  Warrenabuah  he 
married  a  young  Dutch  or  Germar  ^^roman  named 
Catherine  Weiaenberg,  perhaps  an  indentured  aet^ 
vant  whoae  paaaage  had  been  prepaid  on  condition 
of  aervice  in  America.    Little  is  known  of  the  date 
or  circumstancea  of  this  marriage.    It  is  certain 
only  that  after  a  few  years  Catherine  died,  leaving 
three  children,  to  whom  Johnson  proved  a  kind  and 
comriderate  father,  in  spite  of  an  erratic  domestic 
career  which  involved  his  taking  as  the  next  head 
of  his  household  Caroline,  niece  of  the  Mohawk 
chief  Hendrick,  and  later  Molly  Brant,  sister  «rf 
the  Indian,  Joseph  Brant. 

Moliy  Brant,  by  whom  Johnson  had  ei^t 
children,  was  recognized  as  his  wife  by  the  Indians, 
while  among  Johnson's  English  friends  she  was 
known  euphemistically  as  "the  brown  Lady  John- 
son." She  presided  over  his  anomalous  household 
with  dignity  and  discretion;  but  it  is  noticeable 


t.:M 


I 


,.r  il 


M4  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

that  Johnaon,  who  was  so  willing  to  defy  public 
trillion  in  certain  matters,  was  sufSdently  con- 
ventional in  others,  as  we  learn  from  a  deMrqH 
tionof  the  daily  life  of  the  legitimate  dauf^ters  of 
the  house.  While  Mohawk  chiefs,  Oneida  braves. 
Englishmen  of  title,  and  H<ftingnishw1  guest*  tt 
every  kind  thronged  the  mansion,  and  while  the 
little  half-breed  children  played  about  the  lawns 
and  disported  themselves  on  the  shores  of  Kaya- 
derosseras  Creek  close  at  Land, "  the  young  ladies  " 
lived  in  almost  conventual  seclusion. 

The  grim  baronial  mansion  where  this  miled 
household  made  its  dwelling  for  many  years,  was 
called  variously  Mount  Johnson,  Castle  Johnson, 
and  Fort  Johnson.  It  was  built  in  1742  with  such 
massive  walls  that  the  house  is  still  standing  in  the 
town  of  Amsterdam.  In  17A5,  when  the  Indian 
peril  loomed  large  on  the  horizon,  the  original 
ddenses  were  strengthened,  a  stockade  was  built 
as  a  further  protection,  and  from  this  time  on  it 
was  called  Fort  Johnson. 

Owing  perhaps  to  Johnson's  precautions  and 
the  Indian's  knowledge  of  his  character,  the  fort 
was  not  attacked  and  its  3wner  continued  to  dweD 
in  the  house  until  1762,  v.hen,  having  become  one 
of  the  richest  men  in  the  colony,  he  built  on  a  trad 


8IH  WILLIAM  JOHNSON  m 

rf  knd  in  JahMtown  •  mow  .mbitioiu.  and.  ft  i, 
to  be  hoped.  •  mow.  cheerful  numdan  known  «. 
John«nH.lL  ^  ho,«  w«  built  of  wood  with 
wii««.  cf  rtone.  pierced  at  the  top  for  mu«keta 

On  one  «de  of  the  hou«  lny  «  g«den  «,d  nufwy 
d»cribed  « the  pride  of  the  mmounding  country. 
Here  John^m  lived  with  an  opulence  which  murt 
have  amaMd  the  simple  .ettlew  around  him  c 
PeciaUy  thoM  who  remembered  hi.  coming  to'  the 
colony  as  a  poor  youth  len  than  thirty  yeaw 
earlier.    He  had  in  hi.  service  a  ««et«ry,  a  phyai- 
cian,  a  musician  who  played  the  violin  for  the 
entertainment  of  guests,  a  gardener.  .  butler  a 
waiter  named  Pontiach.  of  mixed  negro  and  Indian 
blood,  a  pair  of  white  dwarfs  to  attend  upon  him- 
•elf  and  his  friends,  an  overseer,  and  ten  or  fifteen 
slaves. 

This  retinue  of  servants  was  none  too  huge  to 
cope  with  the  unbounded  hospitality  which  John- 
wndjspensed.  A  visitor  reports  having  seen  at  the 
Han  from  sixty  to  eighty  Indians  at  one  time  lodg- 
ing under  tents  on  the  lawn  and  taking  their  meals 
from  tables  made  of  pine  boards  spread  under  the 
trees.  On  another  occasion,  when  Sir  William 
called  a  council  of  the  Iroquois  at  Fort  John- 
son, a  thousand  natives  gathered,  and  Johnson's 


MldOCOPT  nSOUITION   TfST  CHA>r 

(ANSI  Gnd  rSO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.25 


I3J 


1.4 


1^ 
1.8 


1.6 


^  >tPPLIED  IM/IGE    In 

^=-^  t653  Eail  Main  StrMt 

^^=  Rochsiter.  Nn  Yort        1*609       USA 

r^as  (716)  482 -0300- Phon. 

^S  (716)  2aa  <  5989  -  Fo. 


I 


r^. 


.1 


2M  DUTCH  AND  ENGUSH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

neighbors  within  a  circuit  of  twenty  miles  were 
invited  to  assist  in  the  rationing  of  this  horde  of 
visitors.  The  landholders  along  the  Mohawk  niight 
well  have  been  glad  to  share  the  bui  en  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam's tribal  hospitality,  since  its  purpose  was  as 
much  political  ..s  social  and  its  results  were  of  end- 
less benefit  to  the  entire  colony. 

At  last  the  Indians  had  found  a  friend,  a  white 
man  who  understood  them  and  whom  they  could 
understand.  He  was  honest  with  them  and  there- 
fore they  trusted  him.  He  was  sympathetic  and 
therefore  they 'were  ready  to  discuss  their  troubles 
freely  with  him.  As  an  Indian  of  mixed  blood 
declared  to  the  Governor  at  Albany  in  speaking 
of  Sir  William:  "His  knowledge  of  our  affairs,  our 
laws,  and  our  language  made  us  think  he  was  not 
like  any  other  white  but  an  Indian  like  ourselves. 
Not  only  that;  but  in  his  house  is  an  Indian  woman, 
and  his  little  children  are  half-breed  as  I  am." 

The  English  therefore  were  peculiarly  fortunate 
in  finding  at  the  most  critical  stage  of  their 
political  dealings  with  the  Indians  a  representative 
endowed  with  the  wisdom  and  insight  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson.  Unlike  the  French,  he  did  not 
strive  to  force  an  alien  form  of  worship  upon  this 
primitive  people.    Unlike  the  Dutch,  he  insisted 


SIB  WILLIAM  JOHNSON  ggj 

that  business  should  be  carried  on  as  honestly  with 
the  natives  as  with  the  white  men.    Unlike  his 
fellow-countiymen.  he  constantly  urged  adequate 
preparation  for  war  on  the  part  of  the  English  and 
demanded  that  they  should  bear  their  share  of  the 
burden.    In  a  written  report  at  the  Albany  con- 
gress he  strongly  recommended  that  inasmuch  as 
the  S«  Nations,  owing  to  their  wars  with  the 
French,  had  fallen  short  both  in  hunting  and 
Plantmg.  they  should  be  provided  with  food  from 
the  English  supplies.    Finally  he  testified  to  the 
smcenty  of  his  convictions  by  going  to  the  war 
lumself  and  rendering  valuable  service  firat  as  colo- 
nel and  later  as  major-general.     After  the  Battle 
of  Lake  George.  Johnson  was  knighted  by  the 
Kmg  and  received  a  grant  of  £5000  from  Par- 
hament    In  thesameyear  he  was  appointed  by  the 
Crown     Agent  and  Sole  Superintendent  of  the 
S«  Nations  and  other  northern  Indians"  inhabit 
mgBntish  territoo-  north  of  the  Carolinas  and  the 
Unio  Siver. 

Johnson  is  described  by  one  who  saw  him  about 
this  time  or  somewhat  earher  as  a  man  of  com- 
manding  presence,  only  a  little  short  of  six  feet  in 
height  neck  massive.  broa,<  best  and  large  limus. 
«reatphysicalstrength.theL    J  large  and  shapely. 


Ml 


1, 

I," ''I  :' 


S28  DUTCH  AND  ENGLISH  ON  THE  HUDSON 

countenance  open  and  beaming  with  good  nature, 
eyes  grayish  black,  hair  brown  with  tinge  of  au- 
burn." His  activity  took  every  form  and  was 
exerted  in  every  direction.  His  documents  a^d 
correspondence  number  over  six  thousand  and  fill 
twenty-six  volumes  preserved  in  the  State  Library. 
Nor  did  these  represent  his  chief  activities.  He 
was  constantly  holding  councils  with  the  native 
tribes  either  at  Fort  Johnson  or  at  the  Indian 
camps.  It  was  he  who  kept  the  Mohawks  from 
joining  in  Pontiac's  conspiracy  which  swept  the 
western  border;  it  was  he  who  negotiated  the 
famous  treaty  tit  Fort  Stanwix  in  1768.  In  the 
midsimwier  of  1774  he  succumbed  to  an  old  malady 
after  an  impassioned  address  to  six  hundred  Iro- 
quois gathered  at  Johnson  Hall. 

He  was  one  of  the  fortunate  few  whose  charac- 
ters and  careers  fit  exactly.  He  found  scope  for 
every  power  that  he  possessed  and  he  won  great 
rewards.  His  tireless  energy  expressed  itself  in 
cultivating  thousands  of  acres  and  in  building 
houses,  forts,  and  churches.  He  dipped  a  lavish 
hand  into  his  abundant  wealth  and  scattered  his 
gold  where  it  was  of  the  greatest  service.  He  loved 
hospitality  and  gathered  hundreds  round  his  board. 
He  was  a  benevolent  autocrat  and  nations  bowed 


Sm  WILLIAM  JOHNSON  289 

tohiswai.  He  paid  homage  to  his  Eng.  and  died 
^enriung  the  iUusion  of  the  value  of  prerogative. 
He  was  fortunate  in  his  death  as  in  his  life,  for  he 
was  spared  the  throes  of  the  mighty  changes  al- 
ready under  w»y,  when  the  King's  statue  should 
be  puUed  down  to  be  melted  into  bullets,  when 
New  York  should  merge  her  identity  in  the  Union 
of  States,  and  when  the  dwellers  along  the  banks 
of  the  Hudson  and  its  tributaries  should  call  them- 
selves no  longer  Dutch  or  English  but  Americans. 


I>1  T 

1 1',  i 


''I 


^1 


!i 


BIBUOGRAPHICAL  NOTE 

Tm  rtudent  who  h„  the  courage  to  delve  in  the 

^T^k  thfn' '"  '*',^'"T^  ^^y  of  the  Stated 
rZ  Z  ,  ^?™!«»^'"*  BUl,>ry  of  the  StaU  of  nJo 
roritte  ecdemstical  record,,  the  pioneer  ioLZ 
Md  the  mjnutes  of  early  city  councils,  will  LT^ 
reach  the  fundamental  authorities  on  the  history  rf 
the  settlers  on  the  Hudson,  but  will  find  manyInZ,?: 
mg  .ncrfents  of  which  the  duU  titles  give  no  JrS 
«  the  reader  prefer  to  follow  a  bhized  traU.  he  will 

TheBuU>n,  of  New  Netherland  by  E.  B.  O'CaUaXf 

i^f^T''-\?'"-  ^^*">'  ''*'  Narrative,  of  nZ 
J^fand.  ,«Wbly  edited  by  J.  F.  Jameson  (lOoJ! 

i^rnKwT'T^'''''°'y''yE.H.  Roberts  1904 
John  Fiske's  Z)„teA  ami  Qmker  OAmiee  in  Am^ 
«  vols.  (1809).  and  William  Smith's  B^^oft^^ 

vZS     ""  "'"'*  ^'"^  ""'"*"•  "  i75/«d  ttm 

toSv'lf'™' "',^'''7°*  ^'*y*"'^'"'een  written 
iTSf  M  Tt™'  uf^'o-    Amongthelargerworks 

M^^'l^  ,'  ^If^:  «^"«d  edition,  1915.  in  3  vols.), 
Mrs.  Schuy  er  Van  Rensselaer's  History  of  the  City  of 
Neu,  York  »„  the  Seventeenth  Century^  vols,  (im) 


tn 


BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTE 


I'll 


-> 


r 
,1 


Jsmei  G.  WSion'i  Memorial  HUtory  o/  tht  Cilji  rf 
Nem  York,  4  v<Ai.  {189S).  and  HUlorie  Ntw  York,  i 
vols,  (edited  by  M.  W.  Goodwm,  A.  C.  Royce,  and 
Ruth  Putnam,  1912).  Theodorn  Roowrelt  hM  writ- 
ten a  single  volume  on  New  Yoric  for  the  BiMorie 
Towtu  aeries  (1010).  In  his  New  Amderdam  and  ite 
People  (IMS),  J.  H.  Innes  has  brought  together  valu- 
able studies  of  the  social  and  topographical  fea- 
tures of  the  town  under  Dutch  and  early  English  rule. 
I.  N.  P.  Stokes's  leonography  qf  Uanhattau  lelatid 
C191S)  is  calculated  to  delist  the  soul  of  the  anti- 
quarian. 

One  who  wishes  to  turn  to  the  lighter  side  of  provincial 
life  will  find  it  set  forth  in  attractive  volumes  such  as 
Colonial  Dayi  in  OH  New  York  by  A.  M.  Earle  (1915), 
The  Stoqi  cf  New  Netherland  by  W.  E.  Griffis  (1909), 
In  Old  New  York  by  T.  A.  Janvier  (1894) ,  and  the  Ooede 
Vrouw  of  Uanorha-ta  by  M.  K.  Van  Rensseber  (1698). 

Most  rewarding  perhaps  of  all  sources  are  those  deal- 
ing with  the  biographies  of  the  prominent  figures  in  the 
history  of  the  State,  since  in  them  we  find  the  life  of  the 
times  illustrated  and  personalized.  E.  M.  Bacon  in  his 
Eenry  Hudson  (1907)  gives  us  a  picture  of  the  great 
mariner  and  the  difSculties  against  which  he  sbove. 
The  Van  Rentidaer-Bowier  Mnnuicripli,  edited  by  A.  J. 
F.  Van  Laer  (1908)  show  us  through  his  personal  letters 
the  Patroon  of  the  upper  Hudson  and  make  us  familiar 
with  life  on  his  estates.  J.  K.  Paulding  in  Affaire  and 
Men  of  New  Ameterdam  in  the  Time  of  Oovmutr  Peter 
Stugveaata  (1843)  makes  the  town-dwellers  equaUy  real 
to  us,  while  W.  L.  Stone's  Life  and  Times  of  Sir  WilUam 
Johnson,  8  vols.  (1865),  shows  us  the  pioneer  struggles 
in  the  Mohawk  Vallqr.    In  the  English  State  Trials 


BIBU06BAPHICAL  NOTE  sss 

itey  «rf  the  fwnou.  pirate  CupUin  Kidd,  «,d  find  it 
more  u,tew»tm«  tliu  m.ny  a  work  of  fiction. 

Ainong  theautobiographioa  account,  of  colonic  lif, 
tte  nwrt  entertaining  are  Th,  Memoirs  of  an  AmJZ 
IfyhyA.  M  Gr«it  (1800).  A  T^  wC^ 
A'w  Kori.  rfc.  by  Charles  WoBor  (I90«),  ^TtX. 
«*  yo«m«f  of  Sarah  KembU  Sfa^he^rf  J^ 
'°p"!I  '-r^B^rton  to  New  York  in  1704  (1901). 
nJl^r  '"W'ogwphicl  .efem.ce.wiU  be  found  «,- 
pended  to  the  article,  on  Hud«m  River.  V««,  Fort 


1 


1 


^ 


U 


INDEX 


Aimdm^aUn,  The  (Mp), 
17ft  ITI,  171,  ITS 

Albmny,  naoM  of  Port  Onngr 
chMMd  tft  lS7j  Frfumto 
•end  ddcgatM  to  Port  Juca, 
ISS;  prMmiimtly  O  'di,  154; 

ISS;  Ltuler  Hodi  trao|»  ;u  »- 
"Jt»»«of,IM;coii«reif(17M), 

m  alto  Otangtt  Fort 
Alennder,  Jamea,  lupporti  V«n 
g"f.  ••«;  contributa  to  Nnc 
rork    W-Uy   : -mid,    197; 
counael  for  Zeaga,  \S8-M 
Amenfort,  77 

Aiiutenhip,Fort,aUbIuhed,  M; 
oondition  in  1638,  «I;  beconuf 
Fort    Jama,    1S7;    m    alto 
J«me>,  Fort 
Andnw,  Sir  Edmimd,  Gonmor 
of  New   York,    IM:   uwrti 
urthonty  in  New  JeiMy,  146- 
147;  reoUed,  147;  wpointed 
Govemoi^GemnU  of  '^Domin- 
ion of  New  England"  (168S^ 
149:   unpriaoned   in   Boiton, 
111:   uutmcted   to   nippim 
piracy,  167 
Angola,  P*ul  d',  one  of  the  Snt 

negro  uavea,  U 
Archer,  John,  140 
Arlington,  Lord,  16S 
Amu  qf  Anutirdam,  The  {ihin) 
26  '^' 

Avery,  buccaneer,  173 


Barenta,  Beymier,  IM 


Bareutan,  Fleter,  54 
"•jwl  Mrfc,  lirter  of  Stw- 
vetant.g6  ^ 

BV"*  Nicholas  154,  155,  15*, 

160, 163 
Bear  Uountaia,  rapliea  of  Batt 
„  4*0011  at  foot  jf,  16 
Bean  Uand  fortified,  4 
geowr,  IJe  (ihip),  161 
Beeren  (Bean)  Uand  fortified. 

Bellomont,  Earl  of,  in  atock 
company  to  fit  out  privateer, 
170'aucceeda  Fletcher  aaGovcN 
JO'o' New  Yorli,  170-71, 180- 
181:  Captain  Kidd  communi- 
"'"."U".  "4;  royal  Govei^ 
nor  of  MaaaachuaetU  and  New 
Hunpahirft  175  (note);  up- 
I  ightneaa.  181;  eapouaea  Leialei^ 
lancauae,  181-89;  death  (1701), 
183;  rerenuea  under,  IBl 

Berkeley,  Lord,  145 

Beverwyck,  7« 

Birda  of  Hudaon  renon,  tt 

Hiaaels,  aaaooate  of  Van  Bena- 
aelaer,  40 

Blagyft    Captain,    defenae    of 
Leuler,  157-50 

BIcck,  Adriaen,  185 

B  ock  laland,  185. 174 

Blomnuert,  Samuel.  36, 40 

Blucker,  of  Albany,  156 

Bogardu*  Hev.  Everardua.  8»- 

Boston.  151.  168 
Bradford.  William,  printer,  183 
I  Bradley  aupporta  Coaby,  I8« 
235 


INDEX 


Bna^  M  ollyt  MS 


\i  I 


X  , 


_  Ntw  York  IM 
Bortoa,  tiuj,  tit 

C^boU    Tlw,    wpltwtl—    b 
Huibon  Ngiaa,Tt 


ISt-lttl.. 

CuhtMT^ 'Onffir.  EoflUi 
■mlwmdor  at  nt  Bagiit, 

CwpHiM.  BiMe  of  Molwwk  cbM 

Rradiick,  US 
CWrt  8b  G«itft,  put  of 

Ntw  ttitf  fnnUd  to,  IM: 

C*rt««t.   PUUp.   Gontaor  of 
^NmrJmqr,  1M147 
Cuiinjr,  Fort.  ItO 
C»UioUa.BoBHU.oppowUiahr. 
ICS-IM:  ucunir  d  bdtiiif 
„B«|n  plola,  til,  tl8-lT. 
Cumben,  Jolm,  Itt 
Ckarltr  if  Ubutiu  ami  Priri- 

Iff,  148 
Cbrirtia*,  FM,  ItT 
CMa,  Gooqn  Connor  of  N«w 

York,Mt«raBii«gioploti,tl4- 

U;  mpidai  of,  tl«-lT 
CUDtoD,   GootfCh   Govomor   of 

New  YoA,  qiiotwl,   Ml-tt, 

tit 
CootM,  Edwud,  !«• 
CbclQipe,  IS5 
^Mm,  ^dwdhdor,  Ittt  ItT 
CokuD,  John,  t-7 
Colnv  Coptain  Anthony,  Dutch 

Govomor  of  Now  York,  I4S 
Coninuroo,   «im  of  Dutdi  in 

Afflcrico,    Mi   with  Holland, 

t4;  dubious  Ma  natuno,  168- 

I«t 
Congo,  Simon,  one  of  tho  Srrt 

nt^ilava,  U 
Cone  icticut  Rivor,  tt,  M,  IS5 
Coon,  Nicholaib  W-M 


Conboiy,  Edward  Hrda,  Lord, 
Oonnor  of  Now  York,  IM- 
IMjrmnuoa  undw,  Itl 

Cotbjr,   WiHiaa.   Gonnw  of 
.Now  York,  ItaiM^t 
'Coohjro  Uanor,"  IM 
Curtiuh  Alexandor  Ckralui,  l« 
Cojrlor,  Johaimoib  of  AUamr,  IM 

Do  Loot.  Johan.  II,  M 

''t'*'^-  'iSS*  npporto  Coo- 
br.  IM;  Chief  Jurlkn  Itt; 
Uetrtenant-Goireraar,  tit 
De  k  MoatagiM  J.  M,  M 
Do  b  Nojr,  fttor,  Itt,  Itt 
I>olawai%  Swedioh  colour  in, 
in-l8i  ft  aUo  Now  BwedoB 
Oelawait  Bajr,  tt 
Oelawan  (or  South)  Rinr,  tt, 
(I,  M 

Do  Nogor,  Jan,  S« 

Oe  IVyator.  CoIomI  Abraham. 
t07 

Da  Vrioi,  Captain  David,  quoted. 
!?'.  «•'»_<»  teiritory  on 
IMawan  Bay,  se;  iengtrfa 
of.  tt;  opinion  of  Van  TwiU«, 
<7;  head  of  committee  of 
twelve.  Mi  appearance,  t4i 
treat!  with  Indiana,  tS-tt; 
account  of  building  of  church, 
•t-tS;  viilti  Governor  Flinla, 
Itti  ofdnioa  of  Eelkeu  inci- 
dent, 184 

Doofan.  Colonel 'Tuomai,  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York,  48,  147, 
I(T;  inetructed  to  iuppieas 
piracy,  107 

Dnnui,  Domino  Samuel,  M 

"Ouke'i  Lawi,"  I8« 

Dutch  Eaot  India  Company,  17 

Dutch  Weat  India  Company. 
tO-tt,  80,  St.  a»-M,  tSTil. 
86.  <0, 7S 

Dyckman.  7t 

Earle,  Mn,  overhears  nogiaeo 
pkitting^tlt 


INDEX 


MHoT  N«Ui«lmd. 

fdboh  JiMob,  M,  IM-U 
£«*«*  Tht  Wp),  M 

port,  IM 
"iBd,    war   vith    Uollud 


IS7 


Eofiiad,    war _._ 

gm),n-rr;  tn>ty  (i«m), 

TT;  Maib  tart  to  New  Natho^ 
Jand.  re-M;  war  with  Holland 

iiffi'  't*:?' '~''  <•"♦>• 

14S-M:   takaa  atapa  aninat 

buccaaaara,  170 
Eaopua,  Indian  troubles  at.  T«,  T» 
Bvatlaaii,  Admiral  ComeUi,  U» 

Fnwiek,  land  claimant  in  Weat 

Jeraay,  IM 
Fbtbuih,  n 
nMcher,     Cblooal     Benjamin, 

Governor  o(  New  York,  I«; 

•noouraiaa    piraey.     !««-««: 

revennaa  under,  ISl 
nnahi^.  77;  relifioua  toleration 

m,M 
Food  raaouroaa,  W 
Fordbam  Manor,  IM 
forhau,  Tbe  (ibip),  18 
'lonciaco,  John,  one  of  the  first 

iiepoaUvaa,U 
nanklin,  Beqjamin,  at  Albany 

congraa,  ttO 
n«de^Hw(n«deridawn),ICr7n. 

Vat  trade.  IT,  I»-I».  ti,  41 

Gudioar'a  Island,  Captain  Kidd 
at.  174 

Godrn,  Samuel.  M,  40 

OoadUofe,  The  (ship),  4«-4« 

GoTemor'a  Islrnd,  SO 

Grant,  Mra,  ot  Laiggan.  Umoin 
<9  «»  Amtriain  Lady.  48; 
on  negra  servitude  in  Albany. 
MO;  deacribes  Albany.  HO- 
MO 

Gnvesend,  77 

Or^H,  The  (ship).  I«7 


0«U,^W^,    datad.    v.. 
OtnUvns  Adorns,  IN 

«*).  anebora  )a  New  Y«,t 
harbor,    l-»;   daaer^rtioB  oC 

10-lt:  >oaeward  coarssh  Ml 

HiidsoB  s  cabin.  14:  nnta  to 

•ea.  15;  ijpBca,  10       "^  " 

Hamihon,  Andimr,  dafaodb  Zaa- 

„|er.  MO-OS  -«- «» 

Har^a.  naada,  184^  laa 

Hartford,  Treaty  of,  77 

Hadkwelder,  Bmr.  John,  Utn- 

vian  misaioaary,  aeconnt  of 

HTpSis:^''''--'-*'^ 

Heva,FMer.  U 

gobocan  Baddnfh,  87 
Hoboken,  74 
Hodgson,  Bobert,  8« 
HoUand,  MS  United  Netherlands 
Holmesk  Sir  Robert,  188^^^ 
Horsmanden.  Judges  «i7 
Hoaaatonic  River  discorared,  lU 
Hudaon,  Captain  Henry,  aploces 
Hudson  River  in  ffatf  jfam, 
I-I«;  barters  with  Indians,  f 
<,  10;  entertains  Indiana.  4-X 
8-10.  I»-l.*i.at^^?^t 
lO-llj  Irving'a  deacription  of. 
I»;  fights  lAth  IndiSTl" 
bold  at  Dartmouth.  17 
./'?•"»?'"'•  '"Plowd,  1-18; 
, ,™  "ilT?  •'  "»  Steep  Billa^  " 
U;  aJled  Maariti^«i^^ 
t»,  188;  commerce  on.  88-I8- 
overfiows.  78;  pirateaon,  180 

HiintCT,Hobert,GovemorofNew 
.„  V  "*=  W"*"  PaUUnei 
^J'"'  '^o*  iWSS:  reaiow 
I»»:  quoted.  l»l  ^"^ 

Hutchiason,  Anne,  85 


08 

Hiqrck,  Jan,  M 


INDEX 


vm 


Indiau,  (Sect  of  Buff  Horn  on. 
4-0,  7-10;  attack  Cofanaii.  «; 
Moidljr  at  W«tt  Point,  10; 
<m  Ha(f  Moon.  IS;  attempt 
theft,  14-IS;  conflict  with.  U, 
«»-«6.  7*^:4;  legal  ceremoi ' 
toward,  36;  paid  Tor  landi,  S7- 
M,  4S;  Hrranta  of  Hinnit  kill 
friendly  Indian,  U;  Kieft'i 
trouble!  with,  ««-6e;  attack 
New  ADuterdam,  74;  a*  ni^- 
bon  of  Dutch,  1M-S6;  treaty 
■i^ned  on  N<»man'i  KiO,  I2S; 
fnendahip  of  the  "Six  Na- 
tion!," CIS;  take  Wdtpath,  (!•; 
Sir  William  Johneon  a!  friend 
of,tt»-«7 

Ingoldeiby,  Major  Bichard,  ISl, 
ISJ-SS 

Irving,  Waahiugton,  ut  Knicker- 
bocker, Diedrich 

Jamee,  Duke  of  York  and  Albany, 
Lord  Proprietor  of  New  Yoik, 
IS7, 144-44;  become!  King  of 
England,  148 

Jamei,  Fort,  IS'.,  14»,  1«S;  m 
alio  Anuterdam,  Fort;  Willem 
Hendrick,  Fort 

Joguee.  l!aac  Jeauit  niifl!ionary. 
oeacribe!  Reniaelaenwyck,  40- 

Johuon,  Sir  William,  at  Albany 
congrei!,  HO;  formuhtie!  In- 
dian policy,  Ml;  bom  in  Ire- 
lud,  ttl;  deacribed  by  hii 
uncle,  ttl;  life,  ttt-tt;  home, 
tU-U;  hoepitality,  M5-M;  in 
nench  and  Indian  War,  tXl; 
bughted.  M7;  appearance, 
ttr-IS;  activitiei,  H8;  per- 
lonal  characteriatici,  ttS-O 

Johnion,  Fort,  ftU.  US 

Joria,  Adriaen.  M 

Juet.  Robert,  of  Limebouae, 
quoted,  t.  S 


Kabn.   FMer.   deMsibea  court- 

honae  at  Albany,  MO 
KiyofKalmar,  The  (ihip),  1«7 
Kidd,  Captain   William,    170- 

17> 
Kieft,'  William,  lucceeda  Van 
Twiller,  iS;  aa  Governor  -al 
New  Netberland,  (1-07;  chai> 
acter,  (1;  activitiei,  «l-«(; 
relationi  with  Indiana.  m-SA; 
recaUed  (1047).  66;  drowned, 
66;  Kuyter  and  Melyn  againtt, 
6t;  upheld  by  Stuyvennt, 
6S;  oppo!ed  by  Bogardu!,  SO- 
SO;  rauea  money  ror  church, 
»»-»8:  letter  to  Minuit,  1«7- 
IW 

Knickerbocker,  Diedrich  (Ir- 
ving), deicription  of  Henry 
Hudaon,  11;  deicription  of 
Van  Twiller,  «8:  qootod,  1«1- 
122 

Knight,  Sarah  Kemble,  quoted, 
206-07 

Krol,  Sebaitian,  M,  66-17.  90 

Kuyter,  Joehem  Pieteraen,  69 

Labor  in  New  Nctherland,  27 
I^ialer,  Jacob,  ISO;  calli  con- 
vention at  Fort  Jamei,  ISS; 
appointed  "Captain  of  the 
fort  at  New  York.  .  .",  168; 
Catholic!  and  aristocracy  op- 
poae,  15S-64;  temporary  vic- 
tory, 164-66;  ainimea  title 
of  Lieutenant-Governor,  166; 
demands  reco^tion,  166-66; 
calla  convention  to  diicnn 
defenie,  166-67;  controversy 
about,  167-60;  refum  am^ 
render  of  fort.  161-63;  finally 
yieidh  16S;!entencedto.death. 
16S-64;  attainder  removed. 
164;  Bellomontcauieareburia]. 
181-S2 
IMU  Fox.  The  (ihip).  IB 
Livingiton.  Robert.  4S.  164, 166, 

170,  ISa.  196 
Livingaton  Manor,  48 


INDEX 


!<»«  Uaad,  W  Dutch  oo,  tt: 
Baffin  on,  78,  IS5-M;  be. 
o«ie«  oounty  of  Yorbhin, 

f""**""*!*  Govert,  45-M 

I«v»U«,  CoJpnel  Pnnca.  bus 
«edi  NiooD.  M  Governor  of 
Now  Yoii,  laa-W;  MUbUibei 
ant  auD  Rrvice,  14(M2 

">™»«.  Lord,  Governor  of 
New  York,  ISi 

Laytk,  Mpdim,  lOI 

5J«Meii,  Coraelii,  109 

"M»gMcar,  meetiM  pUce  for 

piratei  and  merehanta.  168- 

IW,  170;Kiddreaclle^m 

Manhattan  Iiland,  ts>;  Hudson 

l«ve»,  10;  lettlen  in,  U;  pur- 

chaaed  from  Indiana  tS,  M; 

"wwxi  for  Dutch  Wot  In- 

dittCompany.SSjaunrendered 

.to  England,  gO-«g;  life  on.  Ids 

Mannahattaoik,"  9 
Manors  in  New  Yoik.  St  34-S4 

47-49 
MauiitiiB,  (Hudaon)  Hiver,  n. 

M.a»,18« 
Maverick,  Samuel,  139 
May,     Cornelia     Jacobien,     of 
Hoom,     tt;    first    Director- 
General  of  New  Netherland, 
ol 
Uteutdm,  The  (ship),  at 
Megapolensia,  Rev.  Johanna.  Jr. 

4^8^87-88.901109 
Melvn,  Cornelia.  39,  89 
Michaeliua,  Domine  Jonas.  28. 

88.  90-97,  109 
Middlebur^,  77 
Milbome,  Jacob,   US-at,   lot 

"S'S"  ''S"l  Director-General 
of  New  Netherland.  tS.  St;  n- 
«lled  (1888),  «,  46;  buys 
Manhattan  Ishmd,  43;  builds 
Fort  Amsterdam,  44:  Drepaia- 
boua  tot  war,  44;  shipbuil^ng, 
M;  enten  service  of  Sweden, 


<ft  lW-<7;  ertabllahei  SwediA 
cotomr  in  Ddawam  M7HB 

HoOT^  WUIiam,  17»-78 
Morris,    Lewis,    Odef   JustkcL 
198, 197  •■»»* 

Mothy,  J.  L,  quoted.  80-81,  99 
Moussart    associate    of    Van 

Rensselaer,  40 
Mumy.  John,  818 
Myndertsen,  Hyndert,  38 

Nanfan,  John,  Lieutenant.Gov- 

emor  of  New  York,  180 
NanaganaettBay,  134 
Naaaau,  Port,  19 

NavesinkHeights,Hudsonpaa«a, 

Neger,  Jan  de,  34 

N'*™*,  plot  of  1718,  810-11: 

•Ileged  plots  of  1741,  811-17: 

<ss  a2»  Slavery 
Nethnlanda,  ue  United  Nether. 


New  Amsterdam,  established 
(I«8  .  ta.  sTgrowthTwl 
staple  right"  established  at, 
81;  Indian  troubles  at,  88-88, 
74;  municipal  righu  given  tot 
13;  in  Stuyvesant  s  time,  74- 
78;  fortification  of,  77;  church 
building  in.  91-93;  in  seven- 
teenth century,  108;  103: 
devekipment  of,  104-08;  claaa 
disUnction  in,  107-08  (note): 
bocoTOS  Itor  York,  137;  m 
alto  New  York  City 

New  Castle  (Del.),  130 

New  Gottenburg,  189 

NewJer8ey,84:grantedtoBerke. 
tey  «nd  Carteret,  144-48;  en- 
ters the  Dominion  of  New 
England."  149 

Bw  Net"    "     ■ 


NewNethirland,  Dutch  daim, 
W;  commerce.  18-19;  New 
netuerland  Company,  10-80- 
Dutch  West  IndSCompany, 
•0-88,8as8,3»-34icolS 


MO 


INDEX 


I^S 


New  Netherknd— Cimiiiiunf 
tion.  tl-tS;  acttkn,  <S-M 
nppUa  from  HolUnd,  MHU 
•Uveqr,  at-fei;  roourcei,  <8 
pmtrooiuhip,  S»-47;  "Privj 
wga  uid  Emnptiou,"  DS-U. 
Engliah  take  paeienion  of 
(1M4),  47;  maU  pioprieton 
in,  4»-S0;  denuuide  made  to 
SUtee  General,  7S-7S;  eonveii- 
tion  to  couider  defoue,  77-TS; 
Tki  BmnUe  RtmonHmnM,  78; 
beoomea  New  York,  SS;  religion 
in,  8S-9S;  religions  liberty  in, 
88-8i;  religious  t]mnny,8S-87; 
education.  gs-IOI ;  burghen  in. 
102-S2;  pioneer  living  condi- 
tion!. I03-M;  fire  protection, 
I04-0S;  public  aanitation,  105; 
improvement  in  living  con- 
ditjouh  IOS-06;  "greatburgh- 
er^"  107-08:  drew,  log;  chil- 
dren, 109-SO:  holidan,  114-18; 
diriiteningi,  118;  apuit  of  myi- 
tery,  IM-»;  neighbora^  lis 
It  mq.;  relatbna  with  New  Swe- 
den, lW-81;  rdations  with 
Englidi.  131-86;  question  of 
boundaries.  186;  bibliography. 
«Sl-88;  m aUo  NewTfoS 
KiwNMtrlmd,  The  (ship),  «6 
New  Netherbuid  Company,  IIMO 
Km  ffMerlmid,  The  Rtprmnla- 

*vm<f,tS,tO 
New  Orange,  143 
New  Sweden,  esUblished,  1«7- 
128;  rehtions  with  Dutch,  lis- 
131 
New  York,  government  changed, 
137-48;  suirenden  to  Dutch 
(1674).  148;  name  changed  to 
New  Orange.  143;  returned  by 
treaty  to  English.  144;  Chm- 
Ur  <g  LilmHu  and  PrivOttn, 
148;  becomes  royal  province, 
148;  enters  "The  Dominion 
of  New  Enghwd. "  14«;  piracy. 
168^79;  JM  alta  New  Nether^ 
land 


New  York  CSty,  market  tor 
pmtes.  168;  becomes  cosmo- 
politan. 106:  in  17W.  n6-0T; 
public  buildings.  t07;  hsmry, 
«»7-08;  negro  sUves,  MB-17; 
biUiognphy,  (31-88;  ms  ilto 
New  Amstodam 

iVno  York  WteUa  OoMille,  IVl 

ftw  York  WitUy  Jmmud,  107- 
198 

Nicholson,  Frands,  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  New  Yoric  Wl- 
ISt,  1S7;  leavea  for  Engknd, 
1«4;  imprisons  pirates,  168 

NicoUs,    Colonel    Richard,    ex- 

Cxlitian  against  New  Nethei^ 
nd,    80-81;    first    English 
Governor  of  New  York,  187- 
ISS,  ISO,  144;  warns  against 
division  of  tenitoiy,  148 
Nicolls,  William,  U9 
fliat  NedtrlmJt,  The  (ship),  tt 
KiihiiniaU,  The  (shin),  18 
Nooten  (Nut)  Island,  dd  name 

for  Governor's  Island,  60 
Norman's  Kill,  treaty  with  In- 
dians at,  lit 
Nysen,  Wolf.  36 


Olfertsen  treats  with  Indians.  65 

Onnge,  Fort.  39;  established.  19; 
colonists.  23.  23,  40;  supplies 
brought  up  Hudson  to.  29; 
in  1626-28.  M;  Stiqrveaant's 
orders  concerning.  71-ra; 
strengthened.  77;  town  on 
Hudson.  102;  Eelkens  Unds 
near,  134;  becomes  Albany, 
137;  SM  aim  Albany 

Oxenstiem  conducts  govern- 
ment of  Sweden,  126 

Oifard,  Earl  of,  170 

Fklatines  in  New  York,  186-88 

Patioons,  32  el  §eq. 

Bsuw.  Michiel  36-37. 89 

Favonia.  39.  74 

Fhilipse.  Judge  Adoiphe^  196, 199 


INDEX 


ht 


Ml 


n^«^  FMaUc  IM 

niai|Mal(«ii<ir,47 

Pietemi,  Evirt,  W 

Fincgr,  IW-TO 

Fottaipwn  Anthoiv.  one  of  tin 

nntingrotUva.S5 
FortalwnioeertabUilied,  IM-M 
Pnnetu,  Tha  (ship),  M 
Mnfat,  Jobui,  Goveraor  oT  New 

Smcleii,in-n 

Qukm,  fty  ladiu*  for  land, 
m-K;  Stajrvaut'i  dealing! 
with,  70;  85-M 

QiMlat*  MerdumI,  Tin  (iliip), 
IT*.  174.  177 

Bapniie.  Sarah,  U.  109 

Baritaaliidiaiu.es 

Bdigion  in  New  Netherland,  8S- 
M 

Reaoelaer'i  Stein  (Caatle  Beiu- 
selaer).45 

HwiMflaetiwyck,  typical  pa- 
tinonihip,  t»;  ntUement,  M- 
41;  life  in,  41-46;  liliraiy.  4«; 
ooet  of  living.  4»-4S;  temu  of 
!«»«•.  4»-44;  hoatility  between 
pattoon  and  tenanta,  44; 
iriation  of  patioon  and  Com- 
panr.  45;  Stuyveunt  and,  71- 

n 

Bodantnn,  Adam,  94 
Bomnojr,  Eari  of,  170 
Bondout,  102 

Bynng,  Governor  of  New  Swe- 
den, 130 

S(.  Jakn,  The  (slaver),  JM 
San  Salvador,  victoiy  of  Dutch 

over  Spaniih  off  (ie«7),  H 
Sdunectadr.  maaaacra  at,  IM 
Schoharie^  Fklatinea  at,  188 
Schuyler,  Fbter,  IM,  IM 
Schuyler   caUte   near   Albany, 


Sewall,  Samuel,  1«8 
Shipbuilding  at  New 
dam,  M 


Shiewrimiy,  Dote  of,  170 
Slavety,  Dutch  introduce,  U-M; 
treatment  of  davee  in  New 
Netherland,  M-«;  in  New 
York,  MB-0«;  ordinance  itgo. 
htlnc  ahvea  (1084),  M»-10: 
•MoMoNegroea 
9eq>y  Hollow,  chnrch  at,  47- 

Slougfater,  Colonel  Benry,  Gover- 
nor of  New  York,  100,  Ml. 
lOa,  ISS,  Its,  1«1 
Smith,  William,  107, 198-M 
Smita,  CUea,  OS 
Somen;  Lord  Chancellor,  170 
Soulbn^,  The  (ahip),  S7 
South  (now  Delaware)  River,  at 

»1,  «» 
Spain,  truce  with  Holland,  17, 
SO;  plota  against  Holland,  80; 
defeat  by  HoUand,  M 
Spuyten  Duyvil,  liO 
Stanwix,  Fort,  Treaty  of,  H8 
"Staple  right"  at  New  Amsta- 

dam,  01 
Staten  Uand,  SO;  «a  OS;  ma- 
chaaed  by  Btnw,  S9;  trans- 
ferred to  Mdyn,  80;  Indians 
attad^  74;  becomes  part  of 
Yorkshiiv,  188;  Dutch  Jeet  oB, 
143 
Steenwyck,  Cornelia,  ISO 
Stevenaen,  Jan,  08 
Stomr   Ftoint;   Baff  Mam   be- 
calmed at,  IS 
Stnyvesant,  198 

Stuyvesant,  FMrua  (Pieter), 
made  Director-General,  48; 
appearance,  e":  j  Director- 
General,  88;  upholds  Kieft,  00; 
araigned  by  hurghera,  89; 
defense  of,  80-70;  character  of, 
70-71;  contest  with  Van  Slieb- 
tenhorat,  71-79;  arbitrarincia, 
79;  opposes  local  self-govern- 
ment, 79-7S:  treatnmt  of 
Indiana,  74;  warns  Oimpany  of 
lack  of  defense,  78;  tnatment 
of  CoDvention,  77-79;  be^ 


Mt 


INDEX 


iM^ 


•i 


Btancaat.  FMnr-CmttiiMl 
for  naaAmoNBtt,  «;  mr- 
nnfan  to  EnglUi,  si-M;  n- 
H|iou<  tsmuqr  under,  U-«7; 
buddi  Fort  Cuimir,  ISO;  trin 
to  ntUe  boasdur  di^pMm, 
186 

SwuuwBdad.  M 

Smden,  plm.  expedltiaa  to  N«w 
World.  MB;  entruoe  into 
Tljrt»Y«Mi'  Wm,  1M:  «.. 

T«iT7to«n,47 

^w,  Tbomai^  l6»-«7 

JWYem'War.SMM 

Ilenpont,  hmcUU  of  M»,  jl 

I>;w,  The  (ihip),  IS       ^ 

Invor,  CapUui  of  the  IFilKoi, 

182 
Taatr  Chnrch  foaoded,  188 

Dlrter  tefnaee  to  eend  dekntee 
to  Fort  Imm,  188 

n^ted  Netherianda,  geine  foot- 
hoMin  Ameria,  (,  17;  cokniiti 
jroni.  tt-t9;  rektioaa  with 
Spun.  8a  Sf,  duncter  of 
people,  80-81;  idstione  with 
rawUnd,  78-77,  7l>-88;  takes 
PMieimm  of  New  York  in 
1874, 148:  M>  obo  New  Nethor^ 
Und 
Dawlim.Williani.IM 


Van  Bnran.  A.  H.,  dted.  (3 

„(note) 

Van  Cntjandt,  Stephaaoa^  184 

Van  Cortlandt  Hanor,  47 

Van  Curler.  Arendt.  44 

Van  Dam.  Eip,  l»S-« 

Van  der  Donck.  Adrian,  68,  78; 

Snn$inbaioH,  8a  70 
Van  Djrck,  Bendridc,  74 
Van  Boboocken,  Harmanua,  M; 

RnmnUal  Biqueil,  100 
Van  RenaMlaer.  Jan,  4S 


VanBenariaer,  Kmaen,mtaii 

»-S!~Sffi5iZ'-£lJ2: 

VanSHchfenhont,  Brandt,  71 

VuTienhoven.  Cornelia,  SM'a 
108 

Van  Twite,  Wouter,  Governor 
of  New  Njtherlaai^n? 
87-81;  nephew  of  Van  Beaa- 
•eU«.  48.  W  (note) :  De  Vriee-a 
g>niwnof,  87;  Irving'adeicrip. 
ton  of,  58;  Griffi.  dSfenda,  d^ 
88;  turth.  88  (note);  lai^  «. 
poKbture  of,  80-80;  Eelkeoa 
modeat.  «8i  188-88;  ncalled. 

Van  WaMenaer,  Nicholaa  Jana- 
■pon,  account  of  iUpment  of 
bve.todc(4;atook>^und« 
Minmt  «»^!  of  setttement 
of  Fort  Orann  88Hi4 

Veliilat,  William,  DinetoMSen- 

enUof  New NelherUnd  (18*5- 

I8nl).  81 
Verhubten  Idand.  81 
Venuano  viaiu  Hudion  Bivtr 

region.  16 
Ventiua  (Verteai).  Williain.  88 

WaDooub  tt,  07 

^m^  ^T-  """"  "f  Sir 
William  Johnaon,  Ml 


Warren,  Cutain  pUm,  cgl 
Wanenabuih,  888 
Wockqnaaueedu,  88,  88-68 
Wendell,  Optain,  186 
Weatchater,    New    Euglanders 

in,  188;  becomea  part  of  York- 

■bire^lSg 
^10    ^"^^    Hudaon    reaches, 
mijem  Bendrick,  Fert.  148 
Wdham  of  Orange  and  Mary, 

aoveieigns   of   EngUnd,    IM . 


/    > 


Med  bgr. 


M*,     M 
odbTI 

k  w-ra 

Governor 
.  4^  Ml 


•  doerip- 
aid>,<8- 
leviahez. 
EeUceu 
ractlkd. 

Iw  Jau> 

pmentof 

Dy  under 

tUement 

t 

toi^Gen- 

ddau- 


n  Biwr 
■m,  M 

of  Sir 
HI 


YoiUiii^Mg 


INDEX 


— «-,  Mm  Ptter, 
to  Bradford,  IMi 


MS 

lUoi 


■"•nwwwu,  two;  oouectf  nb- 


lUnden 
fYork. 

reaches, 

43 

Mary, 
d,    14». 


